Unusual clinical course and acquisition of del(11)(q23) in second lymphatic blastic phase of a Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

We describe unusual clinical and cytogenetic findings of a 29-year-old female with a Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), who showed a mosaic of apparently normal cells and cells bearing the classical t(9;22)(q34;q11) during the first lymphatic blastic phase (BP). The second lymphatic BP developed 10 years later. In addition to the t(9;22), which was detected in all metaphases, a del(11)(q23) was identified as a subclonal change in 4 of 25 metaphases. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis using a chromosome 11-specific library probe and a probe covering the breakpoint cluster region of the MLL gene revealed hybridization signals of both probes on the normal and the deleted chromosome 11, indicating that the breakpoint on chromosome 11 occurred telomerically to the breakpoint cluster region of the MLL gene. Chemotherapeutic treatment resulted in reconstitution of the chronic phase with persistence of the Ph translocation as the sole chromosomal abnormality.     

Characterization of t(11;19)(q23;p13.3) by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis in a pediatric patient with therapy-related acute myelogenous leukemia

This case presents a Caucasian girl diagnosed with early pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 2 years. The only chromosomal anomaly detected in her bone marrow cells at this time was an add(12p). By age 4 years, she had a bone marrow and central nervous system (CNS) relapse of ALL and was treated with chemotherapy that included etoposide. She was in complete remission for 2 years following chemotherapy with etoposide, but later developed therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML). At this time, a t(11;19)(q23;p13.3) rearrangement was detected in her bone marrow cells. The AML relapsed again 1 year after allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT). The presence of a chromosome 11 abnormality involving band 11q23 in this patient suggests that the transformation from ALL to t-AML was a consequence of etoposide included in her chemotherapy. Studies have shown that the 11q23 breakpoint in the t(11;19) rearrangement is consistent, and involves the MLL gene in t-AML patients. However, the breakpoint in 19p is variable in that it could be located either at 19p13.1 or 19p13.3 and thus could involve either of two genes: ELL (11-19 lysine-rich leukemia gene) on 19p13.1 or ENL (11-19 leukemia gene) on 19p13.3. In this study, the t(11;19)(q23;p13.3) was further characterized and the breakpoint regions were defined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis.     

Hu-ets-1 gene in congenital leukemia with t(11;19)(q23;p13)

Cytogenetic analysis of the leukemic cells from a 1-day-old baby with an acute myelomonocytic leukemia revealed them to contain a chromosome change of t(11;19)(q23;p13). Molecular studies using a 980 bp HindIII/HpaI digested v-ets probe showed no DNA rearrangements, deletions, or amplification in the leukemic cells, including the JH immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor ( or β) genes. The findings indicate that the leukemic cells with t(11;19)(q23;p13) appear not to contain a transposition or rearrangement of the protooncogene Hu-ets-1 located at 11q23, as previously described in leukemic cells with t(4;11)(q21;q23) and t(9;11)(p22;q23). The leukemic cases with t(11;19)(q23;p13) studied by us showed a phenotype compatible with their myelomonocytic nature, although it is possible that other cases may have a lymphoid phenotype.     

Banded chromosomes versus fluorescence in situ hybridization in the diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma: a lesson from three cases

We present three cases with presumptive evidence of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) that were submitted for cytogenetic evaluation. Chromosome analysis showed a normal karyotype in two cases, while the third case showed the composite karyotype; 45,XY,t(1;22)(p13;q13),23,del(10)(q22),add(15)(q22),add(17)(p13). The characteristic t(11;14)(q13;q32) for MCL was not observed by conventional karyotyping in any of the cases. We furthermore evaluated the specimens by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the dual-color LSI IgH/CCND1 DNA probe. Fusion signals, consistent with t(11;14)(q13;q32), were observed in 65% and 85% of interphase cells in cases 1 and 2, respectively, while the metaphases from both cases revealed a normal pattern. All abnormal metaphases as well as 57% of interphase cells from case 3 displayed a fusion signal. In the abnormal metaphase cells, the fused signal was located on the normally looking 14q32, suggesting that the IgH/CCND1 fusion resulted from the insertion of the CCND1 gene into 14q32 adjacent to the IgH gene. Thus, FISH confirmed the diagnosis of MCL by showing the IgH/CCND1 fusion. In addition, these findings indicate that the sensitivity of FISH is superior to that of conventional cytogenetics in detecting t(11;14)(q13;q32) associated with MCL.     

Cytogenetic findings in a primary adrenocortical carcinoma

Cytogenetic analysis of a primary adrenocortical carcinoma revealed clonal rearrangements of several autosomes and sex chromosomes. In all metaphases the following marker chromosomes were present: 4p+,t(3;12)(p14;p13),14q+, t(15;20)(p11;q11), t(5;18) (p13.3;p11.2), psu dic(18)t(18.3)(p11.39;p12), and psu dic(20)t(20;9)(q11.2;p11). The results are discussed in relation to the cytogenetic findings in other solid tumors, especially of the kidney.     

Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML): frequency of additional findings

This article documents the cytogenetic findings in 79 patients with typical Ph-positive chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). Direct preparations of bone marrow and/or peripheral blood of 46 males and 33 females were studied with different banding techniques. Seventy patients were studied during chronic phase. Three (4.3%) had unusual or complex translocations: t(6;22)(p21;q11), t(8;12;9;22)(p21;q21;q34;q11), and t(9;11;22)(q34;q13;q11). One (1.4%) had a +Ph, 1 (1.4%) had a +8, 1 (1.4%) had a del(3)(p13,p23), and 4 of 30 males (13.3%) showed loss of Y chromosome. Five of 8 cases studied during blast crisis had additional abnormalities. The +8 occurred in 4 cases, +10 and +19 each in 3 cases, +6, + 9q+, and +13 each in 2 cases, and +5, +11, +14, +21, +Ph, i(17q), dic(1;9), and structural abnormalities of chromosomes #1, #5, #12, and #13 each in 1 case. Two cases studied in blast crisis alone had complex translocations leading to the Ph. Because it cannot be ruled out that these translocations are secondary, they were not included in the calculation of the frequency of atypical translocations.     

Translocation (X;19) with involvement of the inactive X chromosome in oligoblastic granulocytic leukemia

A 72-year-old female with metastatic breast cancer developed oligoblastic granulocytic leukemia 6 months after initiation of chemotherapy. Cytogenetic examination of the bone marrow cells revealed a balanced t(X;19)(q12;q13.3) as the sole abnormality in 50% of the metaphases. The remaining cells showed a normal female karyotype. The der(19) chromosome displayed consistent folding in the Xq13-q23 region in all metaphases, indicating involvement of the inactive X chromosome in translocation.     

Translocation t(4;11)(q35;p13) in an adrenocortical carcinoma

Chromosome studies were performed on an adrenocortical carcinoma extending into the kidney. The following karyotype was present in all metaphases: 46,XX,t(4;11)(q35;p13). Two metaphases with an additional del(1)(q23) were found. The results are briefly discussed in relation to specific karyotypic changes in cancer, in general, and to those of adrenocortical tumors, in particular.     

Isolated cardiac recurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia characterized by t(11;19) two years after unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

A 33-year-old male presented with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) characterized by translocation (11;19)(q23;p13.3). He received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant from a matched unrelated donor. Two years later his disease relapsed with an isolated intracardiac mass, presenting as right heart failure. He had no evidence of concomitant relapse in the bone marrow. Tumor cytogenetics revealed clonal evolution with the karyotype 46,XY,t(3;16)(q23;p13),t(11;19)(q23;p13.3), the chromosome 16 breakpoint involving the band where the genes for multidrug resistance-associated protein and CREB binding protein are known to reside. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an isolated extramedullary relapse of ALL in the heart.     

Translocation (1;19)(q21;q13.3) is a recurrent reciprocal translocation in meningioma

Benign meningiomas are characterized by a normal karyotype or loss of all or part of chromosome 22. Histologically higher grade tumors are typically characterized by a pattern of increasing chromosome loss and instability. This characteristic pattern of unbalanced chromosome aberrations is punctuated in the literature by several intriguing reports of a reciprocal t(1;19)(q21;q13.3) as the sole cytogenetic aberration. We report a third case showing the t(1;19)(q21;q13.3) with additional unstable secondary aberrations of a dic(18;22)(p11;p11) and telomeric fusions.     

Atypical (7;19) translocation in acute myelomonocytic leukemia.

Chromosome studies were carried out after a 24-hour harvest of unstimulated bone marrow aspirate cell cultures from a 75-year-old male with a clinical diagnosis of acute myelomonocytic leukemia (FAB M4). Analysis of nine cells after trypsin-Giemsa banding (GTG) revealed two cell lines with a mosaic chromosome pattern, 46,XY/46,XY,t(7;19)(q22;p13.3). A review of the recent literature reveals one case of childhood ALL with a 46,XY/46,XY,t(7;19)(q11;q13) chromosome pattern [1] and a 46,XY,t(3q;11q),t(7q;19p),t(15;17)(q26;q22) in one patient with ANLL (FAB M3) [2]. The t(7;19)(q22;p13.3) seen in our case has not been reported as the sole specific clonal chromosome rearrangement in myeloid neoplasia. Interestingly, the plasminogen activator inhibitor type I, multi-drug resistance, and erythropoietin genes are located at band 7q22 and the insulin receptor gene is located at band 19p13.3. Both sites contain fragile site loci. The possible role of these fragile sites, genes, or other genes in the rearrangement can only be surmised.     

Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia with t(11;16)(q23;p13.3) and lineage switch into acute monoblastic leukemia

Rearrangements of the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene have been associated with a poor prognosis in infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Previously, MLL translocations involving the CREP-binding protein (CREBBP) gene at chromosome band 16p13.3 have primarily been reported in treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia, after chemotherapy for other primary malignancies using topoisomerase II inhibitors. We report a case of de novo infant ALL with t(11;16)(q23;p13.3). After chemotherapy, this patient developed an acute monoblastic leukemia (M5b) with retention of the t(11;16)(q23;p13.3), indicating that this is a lineage switch of the original leukemic clone. To our knowledge, these findings have not been previously reported.     

两种BCR/ABL探针在Ph阳性白血病荧光原位杂交检测中的不同信号模式及其意义

目的 比较BCR/ABL双色额外信号探针(dual color extra-signal BCR/ABL probe,ESFISH探针)及BCR/ABL双色双融合探针(dual color dual fusion BCR/ABL probe,D-FISH探针)在Ph阳性白血病荧光原位杂交(fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH)检测中信号模式的差异,探讨它们的诊断价值.方法 分别采用D-FISH和ES-FISH探针对74例伴有单纯t(9;22)(q34;q11)及37例伴有变异Ph易位或复杂核型异常的Ph阳性白血病患者骨髓细胞进行间期FISH检测.结果 所有单纯t(9;22)(q34;q11)易位的白血病患者应用两种探针均检测到BCR/ABL阳性信号,ES-FISH探针显示2个橙色信号、1个绿色信号和1个黄色信号模式,而D-FISH探针显示1个橙色信号、1个绿色信号和2个黄色信号模式.ES-FISH探针在9例(12.2%)Ph阳性白血病患者中识别次要BCR断裂位点(1个橙色信号、1个绿色信号和2个黄色信号),而D-FISH探针不能识别主要BCR和次要BCR断裂位点;D-FISH探针在8例(10.8%)Ph阳性白血病中区分ABL基因单独缺失(1个橙色信号、2个绿色信号、1个黄色信号)和ABL、BCR基因共同缺失(1个橙色信号、1个绿色信号和1个黄色信号),ES-FISH则不能区分之.检测变异Ph易位和含Ph易位的复杂核型异常时,两种探针的信号模式分别有4种和6种之多,且以不典型者居多,对于它们的精确解释必须依赖常规染色体分析和中期FISH结果 .结论 ES-FISH及D-FISH探针由于BCR探针大小及覆盖区域不同,在Ph阳性白血病的FISH检测中显示不同信号模式,可分别作为Ph+急性淋巴细胞白血病和慢性髓系白血病患者FISH检测的首选.若采用伊马替尼治疗,主要BCR断裂点和次要BCR断裂点、伴或不伴有衍生9号染色体部分序列缺失均不影响预后,但鉴于ES-FISH探针性价比优于D-FISH探针,推荐其作为Ph阳性白血病FISH检测的首选.     

两种BCR/ABL探针在Ph阳性白血病荧光原位杂交检测中的不同信号模式及其意义

目的 比较BCR/ABL双色额外信号探针(dual color extra-signal BCR/ABL probe,ESFISH探针)及BCR/ABL双色双融合探针(dual color dual fusion BCR/ABL probe,D-FISH探针)在Ph阳性白血病荧光原位杂交(fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH)检测中信号模式的差异,探讨它们的诊断价值.方法 分别采用D-FISH和ES-FISH探针对74例伴有单纯t(9;22)(q34;q11)及37例伴有变异Ph易位或复杂核型异常的Ph阳性白血病患者骨髓细胞进行间期FISH检测.结果 所有单纯t(9;22)(q34;q11)易位的白血病患者应用两种探针均检测到BCR/ABL阳性信号,ES-FISH探针显示2个橙色信号、1个绿色信号和1个黄色信号模式,而D-FISH探针显示1个橙色信号、1个绿色信号和2个黄色信号模式.ES-FISH探针在9例(12.2%)Ph阳性白血病患者中识别次要BCR断裂位点(1个橙色信号、1个绿色信号和2个黄色信号),而D-FISH探针不能识别主要BCR和次要BCR断裂位点;D-FISH探针在8例(10.8%)Ph阳性白血病中区分ABL基因单独缺失(1个橙色信号、2个绿色信号、1个黄色信号)和ABL、BCR基因共同缺失(1个橙色信号、1个绿色信号和1个黄色信号),ES-FISH则不能区分之.检测变异Ph易位和含Ph易位的复杂核型异常时,两种探针的信号模式分别有4种和6种之多,且以不典型者居多,对于它们的精确解释必须依赖常规染色体分析和中期FISH结果 .结论 ES-FISH及D-FISH探针由于BCR探针大小及覆盖区域不同,在Ph阳性白血病的FISH检测中显示不同信号模式,可分别作为Ph+急性淋巴细胞白血病和慢性髓系白血病患者FISH检测的首选.若采用伊马替尼治疗,主要BCR断裂点和次要BCR断裂点、伴或不伴有衍生9号染色体部分序列缺失均不影响预后,但鉴于ES-FISH探针性价比优于D-FISH探针,推荐其作为Ph阳性白血病FISH检测的首选.