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Two new cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia following mitoxantrone treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis

Leukemia volume 20, pages 2217–2218 (2006)Cite this article

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system characterized by periods of relapse and remission of neurological symptoms and progression of disability over time. Although the etiology of MS is unknown, most researchers consider it to be an immune-mediated disease. Mitoxantrone, a DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor used in cancer therapy, was the first immunosuppressant agent to receive approval from the USA Food and Drug Administration and the European Union for treatment of worsening relapsing/remitting, secondary progressive and progressive-relapsing MS.

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) may occur in two forms: the first is preceded by a longer lasting myelodysplastic phase, it is associated with alkylating substances and or ionizing radiation and is related to unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities, including deletions of chromosome 5 or 7. The second form is characterized by a short latency, acute onset and cytogenetic changes similar to de novo leukemias (e.g., translocations involving 11q23 or 8;21 or 15;17) and is associated with the use of DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors (such as epipodophyllotoxins, anthracyclines, carboplatin and mitoxantrone).1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ematologia/Centro Trapianti Midollo Osseo, Osp. ‘R. Binaghi’, Cagliari, Italy

    A Ledda, G Caocci & La Nasa G

  2. Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Dip. Scienze Cardiovascolari e Neurologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    G Spinicci, E Cocco & E Mamusa

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  1. A Ledda
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Ledda, A., Caocci, G., Spinicci, G. et al. Two new cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia following mitoxantrone treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis. Leukemia 20, 2217–2218 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404443

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