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The possible perils of targeted therapy

Leukemia volume 30, pages 1619–1621 (2016)Cite this article

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Blinatumomab is a bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T-cell engager antibody therapy indicated for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor-acute lymphocytic leukemia (BCP-ALL). It only targets and specifically lyses CD19+ cells.1, 2

Lineage switches from lymphoid to myeloid during treatment of BCP-ALL are rare and have been reported to be associated with MLL gene alterations and infancy.3 Recently, a switching BCP-ALL subtype with no MLL alterations but associated with CEBPα changes and CD2 expression has been described.4

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Blood & Bone marrow Transplantation at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

    U Duffner, A Abdel-Mageed, J Younge & C Tornga

  2. Spectrum Health and Michigan State University, Department of Pediatrics & Human Development, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

    U Duffner, A Abdel-Mageed, J Stumph & P Kidd

  3. Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Bronson Medical Center, Kalamazoo,, MI, USA

    K Scott, J Staddon & K Elliott

  4. Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Spectrum Health and Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

    J Stumph & P Kidd

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  1. U Duffner
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Correspondence to U Duffner.

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Duffner, U., Abdel-Mageed, A., Younge, J. et al. The possible perils of targeted therapy. Leukemia 30, 1619–1621 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2016.18

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