Evaluating the clinical significance of FLT3 mutation status in Syrian newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia patients with normal karyotype.

The FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) is one of the most prevalent mutations, affecting between 20 and 30 percent of cases in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The Patients with a FLT3-ITD mutation have a poor prognosis. In the present study, we investigated the FLT3 (ITD-TKD) mutations in 100 newly adult Syrian patients with AML-Normal karyotype (NK). Our results revealed that prevalence of FLT3-ITD mutation was 24%. Interestingly, 20 patients had a typical duplication mutation and four patients had different mutations. From those four mentioned patients, two of them carried a 39 base pair (bp) duplication in different location: (c.1838_1877dup39, p.591-603dup) and (c.1836_1874 dup 39, p.591-603dup), the third patient, showed FLT3-ITD duplication and a newly insertion together, this insertion was not demonstrated before: (c.1842_1865dup24, c.1865_1866insGAA). Finally, the fourth patient exhibited a duplication of 21bp (c.1855_1875dup21, p.597-603dup). In addition, statistically significant differences were observed for the relation between the presence of FLT3-ITD mutation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, overall survival (OS), relapse, and event free survival (EFS). We demonstrated that our patients with FLT3-ITD mutation had a poor prognosis. Also, the frequency of FLT3-TKD mutation was low 2% and no compound between the two mutations was found, as individuals showed to carry the two mutations were not detected. These findings are likely useful for a better understanding of molecular leukemogenetic steps in AML-NK patients and may be beneficial for clinical relevance for risk grouping, study design and choice of therapy in Syrian population.

Prognostic Relevance of DNMT3A, FLT3 and NPM1 Mutations in Syrian Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Among all types of hematological neoplasms, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has the highest death rate. Recently, cytogenetic and molecular genetics are crucial in the management, as a consequence of their effect on AML pathogenesis, classification, risk-stratification, prognosis and treatment. METHODS: 100 Syrian adults with Normal Karyotype (NK) newly diagnosed  AML patients were included in this study, all cases confirmed histologically and immunohistochemically. Patients were divided into six subgroups using flow cytometry and cytological results. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on exon 11-12 for FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD), exon 12 for Nucleophosmin1 (NPM1), and exon 23 for DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) using target primers, the electropherograms were analyzed for gene mutations by comparing with the reference DNA sequence. Data were compared and aligned with different sequences using the NCBI BLAST Assembled Genomes tool. RESULTS: FLT3-ITD, NPM1 and DNMT3A were detected in 24%, 22 % and 4%  patients respectively. M2 subtype had the most frequent incidence of diagnosis in AML. FLT3-ITD mutation patients had the highest mean of death cases, while the DNMT3A mutation patients had the lowest. On the other hand, the highest mean of remission was in patients with NPM1 mutation and the lowest in the carriers of the FLT3-ITD mutation. It was observed that the mean relapsed patients with FLT3-ITD and DNMT3A mutation was 3.4 and 2 months respectively, with no significant differences between (FLT3-ITD and DNMT3A) carriers and non-carriers relapsed. On the contrary,  the mean relapsed for NPM1 mutation carriers was 2.4  months with significant statistical differences. The mean survival time for patients with FLT3-ITD and NPM1  mutation was 5.9 months and 5.85 months respectively, with significant correlation. Between it was 5.88 months in DNMT3A patients with no significant differences. Finally, It was noted that the mean event free survival (EFS) of FLT3-ITD mutation patients was 4.818 months and the mean EFS of NPM1 mutation patients was 4.805 months, with significant statistical differences (p<0.05) between the mutation patients and non-mutated patients regarding to EFS, While this mean was not statistically significant in patients carrying DNMT3A mutation. CONCLUSION: Patients with FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutations have the worst prognosis, where the presence of those mutations was significantly related to overall survival (OS) and EFS. Our study reflects that DNMT3A was not an extremely bad prognostic effect as an independent factor. We can declare according to this study that genetic mutation and variants detection could easily be incorporated into the regimen evaluation of AML patients.

Acute myeloid leukemia due to germline CEBPA mutation in a Syrian family.

BACKGROUND: Familial cases of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with germline-mutated CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (CEBPA) gene are a rare entity classified in World Health Organization (WHO) classification 2016. Most families reported in the literature show an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern consistent with a single-gene mutation. METHODS: Here we studied a Syrian family with four individuals suffering from AML for CEBPA gene mutations by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The father, his three affected, and one yet unaffected child had the same mutation in the N-terminal region of CEBPA (c.198dupC), resulting in termination at Tyr67Leufs*41. All affected family members had a good primary response to chemotherapy and achieved complete remission. CONCLUSION: Overall, another AML family with CEBPA gene mutation is added to the literature, presenting with yet unreported FAB subtype M5 and absence of CD7 expression in some family members.

Frequency of FLT3 Internal Tandem Duplications in Adult Syrian Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Normal Karyotype.

OBJECTIVE: Activating mutations of the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) by internal tandem duplications (ITDs) in the juxtamembrane domain (JMD) have been reported in ~30% of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with cytogenetically normal karyotype (CN). However, FLT3/ITD mutations are frequently accompanied with leukocytosis, high percentage of blasts in bone marrow (BM), and increased the risk of treatment failure in AML patients. FLT3-ITD mutated AML patients mainly with normal karyotype have higher relapse probability and shorter duration of complete remission (CR) after chemotherapy, so FLT3-ITD mutation is considered as an independent poor prognostic factor in AML. METHODS: FLT3-ITD and FLT3-KTD were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism- PCR (RFLP-PCR) in 44 adults AML patients with cytogenetically normal karyotype (AML-CN) at diagnosis to characterize FLT3 status. The results were correlated with the prognostic factors. RESULTS: In this study, FLT3-ITD mutations were identified in 7 (15.9%) of the 44 AML-CN patients. Among the 7 patients with FLT3/ITD mutations, 6 patients revealed a typical ITDs mutation (fragment size was 329 bp) and one patient showed untypical ITD mutation (fragment size was ~400 bp). Whereas 37 patients (61.7%) were FLT3-ITD. None of all AML-CN patients examined showed FLT3-KTD mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support that FLT3-ITD are independent adverse prognostic factors for elderly AML-CN patients and are associated with low overall survival (OS), low rate of CR, high relapse rate (RR), and high percentage of BM blast at diagnosis. We concluded, FLT3 mutation analysis should be performed as a routine test in AML-CN patients.

De novo adult acute myeloid leukemia with two new mutations in juxtatransmembrane domain of the FLT3 gene: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 30% of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) acquire within fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) internal tandem duplications (FLT3/ITDs) in their juxtamembrane domain (JMD). FLT3/ITDs range in size from three to hundreds of nucleotides, and confer an adverse prognosis. Studies on a possible relationship between of FLT3/ITDs length and clinical outcomes in those AML patients were inconclusive, yet. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a 54-year-old Arab male diagnosed with AML who had two FLT3-ITD mutations in addition to NPM1 mutation. Cytogenetic approaches (banding cytogenetics) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using specific probes to detect translocations t(8;21), t(15;17), t(16;16), t(12;21), and deletion del(13q)) were applied to exclude chromosomal abnormalities. Molecular genetic approaches (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the Sanger sequencing) identified a yet unreported combination of two new mutations in FLT3-ITDs. The first mutation induced a frameshift in JMD, and the second led to a homozygous substitution of c.1836T>A (p.F612L) also in JMD. Additionally a NPM1 type A mutation was detected. The first chemotherapeutic treatment was successful, but 1 month after the initial diagnosis, the patient experienced a relapse and unfortunately died. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, a combination of two FLT3-ITD mutations in JMD together with an NPM1 type A mutation were not previously reported in adult AML. Further studies are necessary to prove or rule out whether the size of these FLT3-ITDs mutations and potential other double mutations in FLT3-ITD are correlated with the observed adverse outcome.

Two Novel Mutations of the NPM1 Gene in Syrian Adult Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Normal Karyotype.

OBJECTIVE: Somatic mutations in exon 12 of the NPM1 gene is one of the most common genetic abnormalities in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is observed in 25-35% of AML patients and in 50-60% of patients with cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML). METHODS: We performed Sanger sequencing of exon 12 of the NPM1 gene, on 44 CN-AML patients to characterize NPM1 status. RESULTS: In this study, NPM1 mutations were identified in 10 (22.7%) of the 44 CN-AML patients. Among the 10 patients with NPM1 mutations, type A NPM1 mutations were identified in 8 (80%) patients, whereas non-A type NPM1 mutations were observed in 2 (20%) patients. Two non-A type NPM1 mutations were not previously reported: c.867-868InsCGGA and c.861-862InsTGCA. These two novel mutant proteins display a nuclear export signal (NES) motif (L-xxx-L-xx-V-x-L) less frequently and L-x-Lx-V-xx-V-x-L it has been never seen before, yet. However, both novel mutations show a tryptophan loss at codon 288 and 290 at the mutant C-terminus which are crucial for aberrant nuclear export of NPM into the cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests previously unreported NPM1 mutations may be non-rare and thus additional sequence analysis is needed along with conventional targeted mutational analysis to detect non type-A NPM1 mutations.

Down syndrome associated childhood myeloid leukemia with yet unreported acquired chromosomal abnormalities and a new potential adverse marker: dup(1)(q25q44).

BACKGROUND: Children with constitutional trisomy 21, i.e. Down syndrome (DS, OMIM #190685) have a 10 to 20-fold increased risk for a hematopoietic malignancy. They may suffer from acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML referred to as myeloid leukemia of Down syndrome (ML-DS) is observed especially after birth at an early gestational age and characterized by enhanced white blood cell count, failure of spontaneous remission, liver fibrosis or liver dysfunction, and is significantly associated with early death. There are only few studies yet focusing on the clonal cytogenetic changes during evolution of ML-DS. CASE PRESENTATION: In a 1.4-year-old boy with DS an immunophenotype consistent with AML-M1 according to French-American-British (FAB) classification was diagnoses. Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analyses revealed, besides constitutional free trisomy 21, an unbalanced translocation as der(16)t(1;16)(q25.3;q24), plus a balanced translocation t(3;20)(q25;q13.1). A poor clinical outcome was observed here. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, an ML-DS case associated with identical acquired chromosomal abnormalities was not previously reported. Our findings suggest that especially partial trisomy 1q25 to 1q44 may be indicative for a poor prognosis in ML-DS.

A high complex karyotype involving eleven chromosomes including three novel chromosomal aberrations and monoallelic loss of TP53 in case of follicular lymphoma transformed into B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is one of the most common B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A subset of FL cases transform into more aggressive malignancies, most often to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); in addition, lymphoblastic lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have also been rarely reported. The most common cytogenetic abnormalities associated with FL are translocation t(14;18)(q32;q21) with BCL2 rearrangements, present in 80-90% of all FL. However, that translocation alone is insufficient to cause FL and additional genomic events specifically leading to this kind of disease are still to be determined. The most frequently reported secondary changes are gains of chromosomes 7p or 7q, Xp, 12q and 18q, as well as losses on 6q and mutations within BCL2 and/or BCL6 genes. The presence of additional genomic aberrations, in particular 17p and 6q deletions is more frequent in grade 2 and 3 FL patients and correlated with shorter survival and a higher rate of transformation into DLBCL. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe here, an adult FL grade 2 patient that had transformed to B-ALL at diagnosis. Banding cytogenetics, refined by multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization including array-proven multicolor banding revealed a unique complex karyotype involving eleven chromosomes, translocation t(X;20)(p21.3;q11.2), translocation t(3;20)(q26.2;q12), and a dicentric dic(17;18). Interestingly, the dicentric chromosome led to monosomy of the tumor suppressor gene TP53. The case had an immunophenotype consistent with follicular center cell lymphoma according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, a comparable adult FL grade 2 case that transformed to B-ALL associated with such a complex karyotype and loss of TP53 was not previously reported. Most of complex aberrations were found simultaneously in approximately 85% of studied malignant cells and the remained cells studied were non-clonal; mechanisms explaining this may be either multiple-step mechanisms or single step in sense of chromothripsis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Identifying number: 3842. Registered 09 July 2012.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia with the translocation t(15;17)(q22;q21) associated with t(1;2)(q42~43;q11.2~12): a case report.

BACKGROUND: Acute promyelocytic leukemia is characterized by a typical reciprocal translocation t(15;17)(q22;q21). Additional chromosomal abnormalities are reported in only 23-43 % of cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report the case of a 46-year-old Syrian Alawis woman with acute promyelocytic leukemia with the typical t(15;17) translocation, but with a second clone presenting a t(1;2)(q42~43;q11.2~12) translocation as an additional abnormality. To the best of our knowledge, an association between these chromosomal abnormalities has not previously been described in the literature. Our patient started treatment with all-trans retinoic acid 10 days after diagnosis but died the same day of treatment initiation due to hemolysis, intracranial hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. CONCLUSION: The here reported combination of aberrations in a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia seems to indicate an adverse prognosis, and possibly shows that all-trans retinoic acid treatment may be contraindicated in such cases.

Correlation of p210 BCR-ABL transcript variants with clinical, parameters and disease outcome in 45 chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to search the BCR/ABL 1 fusion gene in 45 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) Syrian patients using nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and compare our results with those of conventional cytogenetics and molecular cytogenetics methods. METHODS: 45 bone marrow or peripheral blood samples from untreated CML patients in chronic phase (CP) were obtained at diagnosis, and analyzed by nested RT-PCR, conventional cytogenetics and molecular cyto-genetics methods. RESULTS: 45 patients examined were positive for some type of BCR/ABL1 fusion gene rearrangement. Out of 45 studied CML patients, 23 (51.1%) expressed b3a2 fusion transcript, 21 (46.7%) b2a2 transcript, and 1 (2.2%) a rare b2a3 transcript. No patient co-expressed both b3a2/b2a2 types. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution BCR-ABL1 transcript types found in Syria were similar to that of Indian Far-Eastern, African or European populations and the M-BCR rearrangement types were not dependent on white blood count (WBC), platelet count, hemoglobin level or gender of the patients. Overall, we could show that patients with b3a2 rearrangements were younger than patients with b2a2 transcripts, thus our young patients may have a worse prognosis.

An adult B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia with multiple secondary cytogenetic aberrations.

BACKGROUND: We report a clinically diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with yet unreported secondary chromosomal aberrations. RESULTS: A complete cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis, using GTG banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and array-proven multicolor banding (aMCB), for a female patient with clinically diagnosed ALL and immunophenotypically confirmed pre-B ALL (FAB classifications), revealed the presence of a complex structural rearrangement, der (2) (20qter- > 20q13.33::2q21- > 2p14::2q21 > 2qter) along with t (9;22) (q34;q11), t (12;14) (q12;p12) and a monosomy of chromosome 7. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular cytogenetic studies are suited best for identification and characterization of chromosomal rearrangements in acute leukemia. Single case reports as well as large scale studies are necessary to provide further insights in karyotypic changes taking place in human malignancies.

Influence of CYP1A1, GST polymorphisms and susceptibility risk of chronic myeloid leukemia in Syrian population.

In the present study, we investigated the associations of polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 gene (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTM1 and GSTT1) with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). A total of 126 patients with CML and 172 healthy volunteers were genotyped, and the DNA was isolated from their blood samples. The polymorphisms were assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism-based methods and multiplex PCR. Logistic regression analyses showed significant risk of CML associated with CYP1A1 Val allele [odds ratio (OR) 3.3, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.96-5.53], (p < 0.0001) while CYP1A1 Val/Val homozygotes were observed only in the CML patients. There was statistically significant difference in the frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes. The GSTT1-null genotype was slightly higher in 27% of CML cases and 16.7% of controls (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.12-3.5) (p < 0.020). The GSTM1 null was higher in 42.8% of CML cases and 22.7% of controls (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.54-4.22) (p < 0.00024). The individuals carrying CYP1A1 Ile/Val (AG) and GSTM1 null genotype have 9.9 times higher risk to be CML than those carrying CYP1A1 Ile/Ile (AA) and GSTM1 present genotype (OR 9.9, 95% CI 2.7-36.3) (p < 0.0001). This suggests that the association of the GSTM1 null genotype, either alone or in combination with GSTT1 null, with CYP1AI heterozygous leads to the CML risk.

Hyperdiploidy associated with T315I mutation in BCR-ABL kinase domain in an accelerated phase-chronic myeloid leukemia case.

BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is genetically characterized by the occurrence of a reciprocal translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11), resulting in a BCR/ABL gene fusion on the derivative chromosome 22, i.e. the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. During CML progression 60-80% of the cases acquire additional genetic changes. Even though hyperdiploidy is not a rare finding in advanced phase-CML, hyperdiploidy together with a T315I kinase domain (KD) mutation in the BCR-ABL gene has not yet been reported. RESULTS: A complete cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis; molecular biology methods such as quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO)-PCR; and immunophenotypically confirmed CML in acceleration phase (AP). Our case revealed the presence of hyperdiploidy including multiple copies of the Ph chromosome, presence of b3a2 fusion transcript,T315I mutation in BCR-ABL KD in pre imatinib mesylate (IM) treatment. The ratio of BCR-ABL/ABL expression in post nilotinib treatment was 0.07% on international scale. CONCLUSIONS: The patient demonstrated a good response to nilotinib after imatinib failure; while the hyperdiploid clone disappeared the T315I mutation remained during follow-up. The underlying mechanisms and prognostic implications of these cytogenetic abnormalities are discussed.

Multiple copies of BCR-ABL fusion gene on two isodicentric Philadelphia chromosomes in an imatinib mesylate-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia patient.

The so-called Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome is present in more than 90% of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cases. Amplification or duplication of the BCR-ABL gene has been found to be one of the key factors leading to drug resistance to imatinib mesylate (IM). In the present study, we identified the presence of isodicentric Ph chromosomes [idic(Ph)] in an IM-resistant patient. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis on metaphase chromosomes confirmed the heterogeneity and amplification of the fused BCR-ABL gene. FISH analysis superimposed on G-banding confirmed the presence of idic(Ph) chromosomes. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products revealed the presence of the BCR-ABL fusion transcript b3a2. The idic(Ph) chromosomes in CML were shown to be fused at the satellite regions of the short arms. The patient did not respond to IM chemotherapy and did not achieve remission. In this study, the impact of the idic(Ph) chromosomes on genomic instability, heterogeneity and amplification of the BCR-ABL gene in IM-resistant patients is discussed.

A novel dic (17;18) (p13.1;q11.2) with loss of TP53 and BCR/ABL rearrangement in an Imatinib resistant chronic myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The so-called Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome is present in more than 90% of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cases. It results in juxtaposition of the 5' part of the BCR gene on chromosome 22 to the 3' part of the ABL gene on chromosome 9. Since the majority of CML cases are currently treated with Imatinib, variant rearrangements in general have no specific prognostic significance, although the mechanisms involved in resistance to therapy have yet to be investigated. The T315I mutation within the abl-gene is the most frequent one associated with resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. RESULTS: This study evaluated a Ph chromosome positive CML case resistant to imatinib mesylate. A dic(17;18), loss of TP53 gene, co-expression of b2a2 and b3a2 fusions transcript and a T315I mutation were found. CONCLUSIONS: We reported here a novel case of a Ph chromosome positive CML with a secondary abnormality [dic(17;18)], resulting to Glivec resistance but good response to nilotinib. The dic(17;18) might be a marker for poor prognosis in CML. Our finding indicated for an aggressive progression of the disease. The patient died under the treatment due to unknown reasons.

A chronic myeloid leukemia case with a unique variant Philadelphia translocation: t(9;22;21)(q34;q11;p12).

The so-called Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome is present in more than 90% of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Approximately, 5-10% of these patients show complex translocations involving a third chromosome in addition to chromosomes 9 and 22. Since at present the majority of CML cases are treated with imatinib, variant rearrangements do not exhibit specific prognostic significance. However, events of therapy resistance remain to be studied. In this study, we report a unique case of CML exhibiting an uncommon t(21;22)(p12;q11). This translocation has been characterized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and array-proven multicolor banding (aMCB). Using specific probes for the BCR and ABL genes, results of FISH showed a three-way variant Philadelphia translocation (9;22;21)(q34;q11;p12) with a BCR/ABL fusion residing on the der(22) and the 3'BCR region translocated on the short arm of the derivative chromosome 21. In addition, the aMCB technique is significant in the detection of the breakpoints of genetic changes. The underlying mechanisms and prognostic significance of these changes are discussed.

A unique cytogenetic abnormality, t(2;7)(p13.1;p21.3), in a Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

The Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome is present in more than 90% of patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It is the product of a reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 9 and 22, resulting in the transfer of the 3' portion of the proto-oncogene ABL from 9q34 to the 5' portion of the breakpoint cluster region (BCR) on 22q11. Currently, most CML cases are treated with Imatinib and variant rearrangements are thought to have no specific prognostic significance, although the events of therapy resistance have not yet been studied. In this study we report a novel case of CML exhibiting an uncommon t(2;7)(p13.1;p21.3) besides t(9;22)(q34;q11). This unusual translocation has been characterized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and array-proven multicolor banding (aMCB), the latter being extremely significant in characterizing breakpoint regions in detail. The underlying mechanisms and prognostic implications of this cytogenetic abnormality are discussed in this study.

A rare case of chronic myeloid leukemia with secondary chromosomal changes including partial trisomy 17q21 to 17qter and partial monosomy of 16p13.3.

BACKGROUND: The so-called Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome is present in almost all cases with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Around 5-10% of these patients show complex translocations involving other chromosomes in addition to and/or besides chromosomes 9 and 22. As nowadays most CML cases are treated with Imatinib, variant rearrangements have in general no specific prognostic significance, though events of therapy resistance remain to be studied. RESULTS: Here we report a Ph chromosome positive patient with hematological typical chronic phase CML. Untypically, an unbalanced complex rearrangement involving chromosomes 16 and 17 leading to a deletion of 16pter and partial trisomy of 17q21 to 17qter, was identified besides a trisomy 8 and an additional Ph chromosome in a part of malignant cells. CONCLUSION: Here a novel and cytogenetically unique case of a Ph chromosome positive CML clinically in chronic phase is reported, having complex secondary chromosomal aberrations. Thus, CML patients with complex chromosomal changes are nonetheless treatable by Imatinib.

A rare case of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia with inversion in chromosome 9 and t(10;17).

The reciprocal translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11), leading to the formation of two fusion genes, BCR/ABL and ABL/BCR, is found in 90-95% of cases with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). ABL-BCR expression does not correlate with prognosis, as assessed by cytogenetic response, since the ABL/BCR gene is expressed in only a proportion of CML patients. This study examined an exceptional BCR/ABL-positive CML case with inversion in 9q22q34 leading to the absence of ABL/BCR. Moreover, an unbalanced translocation between chromosomes 10 and 17 which caused deletion of the TP53 gene was identified. The TP53 gene plays a potential role in CML progression, and loss of TP53 may be regarded as a poor prognostic factor.

A unique complex translocation involving six different chromosomes in a case of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the Philadelphia chromosome and adverse prognosis.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy. Approximately 84% of cases of ALL are classified as B-precursor ALL, 14% of cases are T-cell and 2% of cases are B-cell (B-)ALL. About one third of B-ALL cases show an abnormal karyotype. Combining data obtained by immunophenotyping, karyotyping and molecular cytogenetic analyses allows for a better understanding of this heterogeneous disease. This study reports an exceptional B-ALL case with a poor prognosis and unique complex chromosomal aberrations not previously observed, i.e., a translocation involving the six chromosomal regions 1q42, 4q21, 4q24, 4q35 (twice), 8q22 and 10p15.3 besides 9q34 and 22q11.2.