Letters: Ph-like ALL

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Ph-like ALL occurs in 15 to 20 percent of high-risk pediatric ALL and 20 to 30 percent of adult cases, potentially higher in Hispanic and Native American populations. It is relatively common, and given that the prognosis is generally poor, it is important to be able to identify patients who are Ph-like so they may benefit from clinical trials and targeted therapies. However, the comprehensive algorithm to identify genetic abnormalities can get expensive, depending on the number of additional tests required. Therefore, the judicious use of a sensitive yet specific screening assay is critical to identifying only the 15 to 30 percent of cases that need to be advanced for further testing. This is the advantage of TriCore’s LDA screening assay and algorithm—to properly triage cases that should and should not continue on for additional cytogenetic and molecular testing. Additionally, with the University of New Mexico’s hematopathologists and molecular genetic pathologists performing the testing and providing the interpretations, expert guidance will be provided through every step of the algorithm.

Joanna L. Conant, MD
Devon Chabot-Richards, MD
Department of Pathology
University of New Mexico
TriCore Reference Laboratories
Albuquerque