Acute myeloid leukemia secondary to acute B lymphoblastic leukemia treated with maintenance therapy in a child: A case report

Background Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has the highest incidence among childhood hematologic cancers. Exposure to certain cytotoxic therapies for ALL is correlated with a higher risk of secondary malignancies. Case We report a rare case of a 6-year-old girl being diagnosed with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during her maintenance phase of treatment for ALL with TEL-AML1 fusion gene, approximately 17 months after the primary diagnosis. Conclusion This case indicates that we should recognize the increased risk of secondary AML for pediatric ALL patients with TEL-AML1 fusion gene if multiple alkylating drugs and inhibitors for topoisomerase II are included in induction chemotherapy.