Chromosomal abnormalities in T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukaemia: report of two cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Cytogenetic information on T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukaemia (T-LGL; large granular lymphocytosis) is limited. We report two cases of T-LGL with unusual karyotypic aberrations. The first case showed a novel inv(7)(p15q22) as the sole chromosomal abnormality, while the second case showed an inv(14)(q11q32) with evidence of clonal evolution. The breakpoints 7p14-p15 and 14q11 coincide with the T-cell receptor (TCR)-gamma and TCR-alpha/TCR-delta gene loci respectively. This is the first report describing the possible involvement of T-cell receptor genes in karyotypic aberrations in T-LGL.