[Cytogenetic analysis on 1058 cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the karyotypic status in a large series of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia(ANLL) cases.

Methods: A total of 1058 cases of de novo ANLL were studied. Chromosome preparations were made on bone marrow cells using direct method and short-term culture. Karyotypes were analyzed by R-banding in all cases and G-banding in some cases in addition.

Results: Six hundred and thirty cases (60%) had clonal chromosomal abnormalities. 25 categories of major karyotypic abnormalities were found. Among them, 11 were the specific chromosomal rearrangements seen in 481 cases, accounting for 76% of the total number of patients with karyotypic abnormalities. Isolate trisomy 8 (21 cases) was the most common numerical abnormality. t(15;17)(211 cases) and t(8;21)(200 cases) were the most frequent structural abnormalities. The 1.1% of M(2), 72% of M(3), 71% of M(4E0), 50% of M(2), 6 % of M(5) and 1.4% of M(2) had t(7;11), t(15;17), inv(16), t(8;21), t/del(11q 23) and t/del(12p) abnormalities, however, the 100% of t(7;11), 100% of t(15;17 ), 100% of inv(16), 88.5% of t(8;21), 83% of t/del(11q23) and 62% of t/del(12p) were detected in patients with M(2), M(3), M(4E0), M(2), M(5) and M(2) subtypes, respectively.

Conclusion: By conventional banding technique, including R- and G-bandings, 60% of patients with ANLL may be found to have clonal chromosomal abnormalities which are predominantly specific chromosomal rearrangements correlated with specific FAB subtypes. Thus, karyotype is an important indicator for diagnosis and classification of ANLL.