XYY syndrome and acute myeloblastic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia with a PML-RARA insertional translocation and a chromosome 21 abnormality in XYY syndrome: case report

The concomitant presence of the XYY syndrome with haematological malignancies is rare. This report presents a case of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) with the promyelocytic leukaemia-retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARA) gene insertional translocation and a chromosome 21 abnormality in a 29-year-old XYY male patient. Karyotype analysis revealed an abnormal karyotype of 47,XYY [14]/46,XYY,-21[16]. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed the existence of a PML-RARA fusion gene. The patient was treated by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy. Laboratory results revealed that the coagulopathy improved and the patient achieved complete remission, based on bone-marrow morphology. The patient then received sequential monthly therapy using arsenic trioxide, followed by ATRA, followed by chemotherapy; he has survived disease-free for 36 months. Our findings suggest that the additional chromosomal abnormalities involving the sex chromosomes and chromosome 21 did not affect the prognosis of APL, and that the sequential treatment strategy had a good clinical effect without being associated with severe side-effects.

Conditioning with targeted busulfan for autologous peripheral blood stem cells transplantation for acute myelogenous leukemia in an XYY male

We report herein a 19-year-old Japanese male with XYY syndrome who developed acute myelogenous leukemia. During three courses of cytotoxic chemotherapy, he suffered repeated hepatic and renal insufficiencies, possibly related to latent dysfunction from the XYY syndrome. The patient was treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor combined with etoposide, cytarabine, and busulfan (the latter adjusted to a targeting dose) followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. He had no severe regimen-related toxicities and is now free of leukemia.

Constitutional chromosome aberrations as pathogenetic events in hematologic malignancies

A predisposition to tumor development is associated with some constitutional chromosomal abnormalities. Investigations of families with an apparent hereditary cancer and constitutional chromosome rearrangements have led to the molecular identification of tumor suppressor genes. Under the somatic mutation theory for the development of cancer, two mutational events are required. The first step may be a constitutional event and the second an acquired genetic mutation. Cytogenetic studies were performed on 5633 bone marrow specimens from patients with hematologic malignancies from a single institution. Fifty cases of constitutional chromosome aberrations were detected. Data collected from the literature and from our series are reviewed and compared with the incidence of specific constitutional chromosome aberrations in the newborn population. Possible mechanisms that may predispose individuals with constitutional chromosome aberrations to the development of a hematologic malignancy are reviewed.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in an XYY/XY male

A 32-year-old patient was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the small bowel. The pathologic diagnosis was confirmed by positive immunochemistry against CD34, and against CD117, the tyrosine-kinase c-kit. We performed a karyotypic analysis on the basis of the patient's tall stature and speech difficulties. One hundred thirty-two metaphases were obtained on PHA-stimulated peripheral blood; 123 of them presented an extra chromosome Y. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using a Y satellite III probe showed the presence of a sole copy of chromosome Y in the tumor cells precluding a direct relationship between the extra chromosome Y and the initiation of the tumor. This is, to our knowledge, the second occurrence of a nonhematologic malignancy reported in this genetic disorder. A review of the malignancies observed in men with the XYY constitution is presented.

47,XYY karyotype in acute myeloid leukemia

A case of acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMMoL; M4) with a 47,XYY karyotype is reported. This chromosome aneuploidy was found in both bone marrow cells and mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. The contribution of XYY chromosomal constitution in the pathogenesis of AMMoL is controversial.

Small noncleaved cell lymphoma in an adolescent with the XYY syndrome

A 19-year-old male was diagnosed with stage III abdominal small noncleaved cell (SNCC) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Cytogenetic evaluation of the tumor revealed a complex karyotype which included the t(8;14)(q24;q32), classically associated with this lymphoma histotype, and an extra Y chromosome. After remission was obtained, cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow cells and PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes disclosed a normal karyotype except for the persistence of an extra Y chromosome, diagnostic of the XYY syndrome. This is the first reported case of SNCC NHL in an adolescent with the XYY syndrome.

XYY syndrome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Certain constitutional chromosomal abnormalities increase the risk of malignancy and/or decrease treatment tolerance. We identified two patients with the XYY syndrome among a total of 444 male children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had complete cytogenetics studies. In both cases, the leukemic cell karyotype suggested a constitutional XYY abnormality that was confirmed in studies of lymphocytes obtained during remission. The incidence rate in our series is higher than that of the XYY syndrome in the general population (0.0045 vs. 0.001), but not significantly so. This finding and a literature review failed to confirm an increased frequency of the XYY syndrome among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Both of our patients remain in remission 24 and 28 months, respectively, postdiagnosis. Their tolerance of intensive treatment, including high-dose methotrexate, suggests that the untoward treatment toxicity seen in patients with chromosomal abnormalities such as trisomy 21 does not extend to the XYY syndrome.

XYY male and hematologic malignancy

Two cases of XYY male with refractory anemia with excess of blasts are reported, and previous reported XYY males with hematologic malignancy are reviewed. Altogether 26 cases were collected for analysis: acute myeloid leukemia (10), acute lymphocytic leukemia (seven), acute leukemia (two), chronic myelocytic leukemia (three), myelodysplastic syndrome (three), and essential thrombocythemia (one). The age at the time of diagnosis ranged in age from 7.5 to 81 years. In three of six XYY/XY mosaicism cases, XYY clone was associated with malignancy. However, in two cases XYY clone was not involved. The evidence presented here suggests that the event of an XYY male with hematologic malignancy is incidental rather than a genetic etiology.

Acute myelomonocytic leukemia in a XYY man

A case of acute myeloid leukemia (M4) in a 29-year-old male with a 47,XYY karyotype is reported. This aneuploidy was found in both bone marrow cells and mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. Monosomy 7 correlated with myelodysplastic features. The possible role of XYY in increasing the risk of leukemia is discussed.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in an XYY male

A case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in a 16-year-old male with a 47,XYY karyotype is reported. This chromosome aneuploidy was found in both bone marrow (BM) cells and mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. Immunologic profile of leukemic cells showed a null phenotype. To our knowledge, this is the fifth case reported in the literature.