Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia Harboring a Subclone Expressing <i>BCR-ABL1</i> Fusion Gene Product

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with BCR-ABL1, also termed Philadelphia chromosome-positive AML (Ph + AML), is a rare leukemia subtype classified by the World Health Organization in 2016. The characteristics of Ph+ AML have not been fully identified yet. We herein report a patient with Ph+ AML who phenotypically exhibited megakaryoblastic characteristics, FAB:M7 and harbored a subclone expressing BCR-ABL1 gene fusion products. This case suggests that BCR-ABL1 was acquired as a subclone due to a secondary event that might have occurred late during leukemia evolution. Our findings may aid in deciphering the mechanism underlying Ph+ AML development in future studies.