Acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia

Haematolymphoid Tumours (WHO Classification, 5th ed.)

editContent Update To WHO 5th Edition Classification Is In Process; Content Below is Based on WHO 4th Edition Classification

This page was converted to the new template on 2023-12-07. The original page can be found at HAEM4:Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (AMKL).

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Primary Author(s)*

Fei Yang, MD, FACMG
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR

Cancer Category / Type

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Cancer Sub-Classification / Subtype

Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia

Definition / Description of Disease

Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia is a myeloid disease defined by ≥20% blasts in the peripheral blood or bone marrow, of which ≥50% are of megakaryocyte lineage. In the 2016 revision to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia is a distinct entity within the section of HAEM4:Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Not Otherwise Specified. This entity does not meet the criteria for inclusion in any of the other AML groups (i.e. AML with Recurrent Genetic Abnormalities, AML with Myelodysplasia-Related Changes, or Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasms).

AMKL in an individual with Down syndrome should be classified as a different entity, specifically HAEM5:Myeloid proliferations associated with Down syndrome.

AMKL associated with t(1;22)(p13.3;q13.1), or inv(3)(q21.3q26.2)/t(3;3)(q21.3;q26.2) should be classified as a different entity, specifically HAEM4:Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with Recurrent Genetic Abnormalities: HAEM5:Acute myeloid leukaemia with RBM15::MRTFA fusion or HAEM5:Acute myeloid leukaemia with MECOM rearrangement.

Synonyms / Terminology

French-American-British (FAB) classification M7.

Epidemiology / Prevalence

AMKL comprises between 4% and 15% of newly diagnosed pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Clinical Features

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Signs and Symptoms	EXAMPLE: Asymptomatic (incidental finding on complete blood counts) EXAMPLE: B-symptoms (weight loss, fever, night sweats) EXAMPLE: Fatigue EXAMPLE: Lymphadenopathy (uncommon)
Laboratory Findings	EXAMPLE: Cytopenias EXAMPLE: Lymphocytosis (low level)

editv4:Clinical Features

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• Common manifestations include cytopenias (often thrombocytopenia).
• An association between acute megakaryoblastic leukemia and mediastrinal germ cell tumors has been described.

Sites of Involvement

Bone marrow.

Morphologic Features

• Megakaryoblasts are usually medium-sized to large cells with basophilic cytoplasm and a high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio.
• Nuclei are round, slightly irregular or indented with finely reticular chromatin and 1 - 3 nucleoli.
• Bone marrow myelofibrosis is common.

Immunophenotype

Cytochemistry

• Megakaryoblasts are typically negative for myeloperoxidase (MPO) and stain negatively with Sudan black B.
• Variable reactivity to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining from negative to focal or strongly positive.

Immunophenotype including:

• One or more of the platelet glycoproteins: CD41, CD61, and CD42b
• Myeloid-associated markers may be positive: CD13, CD33
• CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR are often negative, especially in children

Finding	Marker
Positive (universal)	EXAMPLE: CD1
Positive (subset)	EXAMPLE: CD2
Negative (universal)	EXAMPLE: CD3
Negative (subset)	EXAMPLE: CD4

Chromosomal Rearrangements (Gene Fusions)

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Chromosomal Rearrangement	Genes in Fusion (5’ or 3’ Segments)	Pathogenic Derivative	Prevalence	Diagnostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Prognostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Therapeutic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Notes
EXAMPLE: t(9;22)(q34;q11.2)	EXAMPLE: 3'ABL1 / 5'BCR	EXAMPLE: der(22)	EXAMPLE: 20% (COSMIC) EXAMPLE: 30% (add reference)	Yes	No	Yes	EXAMPLE: The t(9;22) is diagnostic of CML in the appropriate morphology and clinical context (add reference). This fusion is responsive to targeted therapy such as Imatinib (Gleevec) (add reference).

editv4:Chromosomal Rearrangements (Gene Fusions)

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None.

Chromosomal Rearrangement	Genes in Fusion (5’ or 3’ Segments)	Pathogenic Derivative	Prevalence
EXAMPLE: t(9;22)(q34;q11.2)	EXAMPLE: 3'ABL1 / 5'BCR	EXAMPLE: der(22)	EXAMPLE: 5%
EXAMPLE: t(8;21)(q22;q22)	EXAMPLE: 5'RUNX1 / 3'RUNXT1	EXAMPLE: der(8)	EXAMPLE: 5%

editv4:Clinical Significance (Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Implications).

Please incorporate this section into the relevant tables found in:

• Chromosomal Rearrangements (Gene Fusions)
• Individual Region Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH
• Characteristic Chromosomal Patterns
• Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)

Diagnosis

• The main differential diagnoses of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia include: AML with minimal differentiation, AML-MRC, acute panmeylosis with myelofibrosis, lymphoblastic leukemia, pure erythroid leukemia, blastic transformation of chronic myeloid leukemia, and the blast phase of any other myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Prognosis

• The prognosis of AMKL is usually poorer than that of other AML types, HAEM5:Acute myeloid leukaemia with RBM15::MRTFA fusion, and HAEM5:Myeloid proliferations associated with Down syndrome.

Individual Region Genomic Gain / Loss / LOH

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Chr #	Gain / Loss / Amp / LOH	Minimal Region Genomic Coordinates [Genome Build]	Minimal Region Cytoband	Diagnostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Prognostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Therapeutic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Notes
EXAMPLE: 7	EXAMPLE: Loss	EXAMPLE: chr7:1- 159,335,973 [hg38]	EXAMPLE: chr7	Yes	Yes	No	EXAMPLE: Presence of monosomy 7 (or 7q deletion) is sufficient for a diagnosis of AML with MDS-related changes when there is ≥20% blasts and no prior therapy (add reference).  Monosomy 7/7q deletion is associated with a poor prognosis in AML (add reference).
EXAMPLE: 8	EXAMPLE: Gain	EXAMPLE: chr8:1-145,138,636 [hg38]	EXAMPLE: chr8	No	No	No	EXAMPLE: Common recurrent secondary finding for t(8;21) (add reference).

editv4:Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH

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None

Chromosome Number	Gain/Loss/Amp/LOH	Region
EXAMPLE: 8	EXAMPLE: Gain	EXAMPLE: chr8:0-1000000
EXAMPLE: 7	EXAMPLE: Loss	EXAMPLE: chr7:0-1000000

Characteristic Chromosomal Patterns

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Chromosomal Pattern	Diagnostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Prognostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Therapeutic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Notes
EXAMPLE: Co-deletion of 1p and 18q	Yes	No	No	EXAMPLE: See chromosomal rearrangements table as this pattern is due to an unbalanced derivative translocation associated with oligodendroglioma (add reference).

editv4:Characteristic Chromosomal Aberrations / Patterns

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• No unique chromosomal abnormality is associated with AMKL.

• Isochromosome 12p is often observed in young males with mediatinal germ tumors and AMKL.

Gene Mutations (SNV / INDEL)

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Gene; Genetic Alteration	Presumed Mechanism (Tumor Suppressor Gene [TSG] / Oncogene / Other)	Prevalence (COSMIC / TCGA / Other)	Concomitant Mutations	Mutually Exclusive Mutations	Diagnostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Prognostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Therapeutic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown)	Notes
EXAMPLE: TP53; Variable LOF mutations EXAMPLE: EGFR; Exon 20 mutations EXAMPLE: BRAF; Activating mutations	EXAMPLE: TSG	EXAMPLE: 20% (COSMIC) EXAMPLE: 30% (add Reference)	EXAMPLE: IDH1 R123H	EXAMPLE: EGFR amplification				EXAMPLE:  Excludes hairy cell leukemia (HCL) (add reference).

Note: A more extensive list of mutations can be found in cBioportal (https://www.cbioportal.org/), COSMIC (https://cancer.sanger.ac.uk/cosmic), ICGC (https://dcc.icgc.org/) and/or other databases. When applicable, gene-specific pages within the CCGA site directly link to pertinent external content.

editv4:Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)

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None.

Gene	Mutation	Oncogene/Tumor Suppressor/Other	Presumed Mechanism (LOF/GOF/Other; Driver/Passenger)	Prevalence (COSMIC/TCGA/Other)
EXAMPLE: TP53	EXAMPLE: R273H	EXAMPLE: Tumor Suppressor	EXAMPLE: LOF	EXAMPLE: 20%

Other Mutations

Type	Gene/Region/Other
Concomitant Mutations	EXAMPLE: IDH1 R123H
Secondary Mutations	EXAMPLE: Trisomy 7
Mutually Exclusive	EXAMPLE: EGFR Amplification

Epigenomic Alterations

None.

Genes and Main Pathways Involved

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Gene; Genetic Alteration	Pathway	Pathophysiologic Outcome
EXAMPLE: BRAF and MAP2K1; Activating mutations	EXAMPLE: MAPK signaling	EXAMPLE: Increased cell growth and proliferation
EXAMPLE: CDKN2A; Inactivating mutations	EXAMPLE: Cell cycle regulation	EXAMPLE: Unregulated cell division
EXAMPLE:  KMT2C and ARID1A; Inactivating mutations	EXAMPLE:  Histone modification, chromatin remodeling	EXAMPLE:  Abnormal gene expression program

editv4:Genes and Main Pathways Involved

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None.

Genetic Diagnostic Testing Methods

• Conventional chromosome analysis

• FISH myeloid panel

Familial Forms

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Additional Information

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Links

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References

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Notes

*Primary authors will typically be those that initially create and complete the content of a page.  If a subsequent user modifies the content and feels the effort put forth is of high enough significance to warrant listing in the authorship section, please contact the CCGA coordinators (contact information provided on the homepage).  Additional global feedback or concerns are also welcome. *Citation of this Page: “Acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia”. Compendium of Cancer Genome Aberrations (CCGA), Cancer Genomics Consortium (CGC), updated 09/6/2024, https://ccga.io/index.php/HAEM5:Acute_megakaryoblastic_leukaemia.