Report of novel chromosomal abnormalities in a series of 130 chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients studied by classic cytogenetic analysis

Abstract

One-hundred-and-thirty typical, unselected CLL cases were studied by conventional cytogenetic analysis. Seventy-three patients (56.2%) had normal karyotype ('normal sub-group'), while 57/130 patients (43.8%) had abnormal karyotype. Twenty-two of 57 patients (38.6%) carried more than one abnormality. Six novel chromosomal abnormalities were detected in five patients: (i) t(3; 13)(q14; q34); (ii) t(Y; 11)(q12; q23), del( 13)(q12q14); (iii) dic(3; 11)(p21; q23); (iv) t( 3; 5)(q29; q23); ( v) t( 3; 22) ( p21; q13); and ( vi) t( 1; 13)(p12; q12). Three of five patients carrying novel translocations had progressive disease. The true biological and clinical significance of novel chromosomal abnormalities remains to be determined.