Studies of complex Ph translocations in cases with chronic myelogenous leukemia and one with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Conventional and molecular cytogenetic studies to characterize 32 complex variant Philadelphia translocations in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

BCR/ABL1 gene fusion is the hallmark of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and is generated in 5-10% of patients by a variant translocation involving 9q34, 22q11.2 and one or more additional genomic regions. The objective of the present study was to characterize, by conventional and molecular cytogenetics, 32 complex variant Philadelphia (Ph) translocations present at diagnosis in patients with CML. The chromosomes most frequently involved were 1 and 5, and the breakpoint most frequently involved was 12p13. The q-chromosome arm was more frequently involved (60%) than the p-arm. The breakpoints were located in the G-light bands in the majority of cases (85%). Additional chromosomal abnormalities were observed in 6 out of 32 (19%) patients. In conclusion, the combination of conventional and molecular cytogenetics studies has allowed us to: i) Detect and quantify the BCR/ABL1 fusion gene; ii) characterize the complex variant translocations and detect cryptic translocations; iii) confirm that the breakpoints are commonly localized in the G-light bands; (iv) confirm that the genesis of variant translocations could be via either the one-step or two-step mechanisms; and v) to report new cases of complex variant translocations.

The Impact of Variant Philadelphia Chromosome Translocations on the Clinical Course of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is genetically characterized by the presence of the reciprocal translocation t(9;22) with the formation of Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. Sometimes, the Ph translocation is generated by variant rearrangements. The prognostic impact of the variant translocations is still controversial. Among the 180 patients with Ph-positive CML who were treated in Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Division of Hematology, variant translocations were detected, and retrospectively clinical and prognostic features were described. Also we performed a comprehensive literature review on the prognosis of such variant cases before and after tyrosine kinase inhibitor era. Five patients (2.7%) had variant Ph chromosomes, involved in the rearrangements were chromosomes 2 (2 cases), 11, 14 and 15. Patients were treated with imatinib or dasatinib. All patients reached a stable major molecular response suggesting a prognosis not worse than standard translocation individuals. Our present data were compatible with the data of previous studies indicating no difference in the prognosis between standard and variant translocations in tyrosine kinase inhibitors era of CML.

A Novel Four-Way Complex Variant Translocation Involving Chromosome 46,XY,t(4;9;19;22)(q25:q34;p13.3;q11.2) in a Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patient

Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome (9;22)(q34;q11) is well established in more than 90% of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients, and the remaining 5-8% of CML patients show variant and complex translocations, with the involvement of third, fourth, or fifth chromosome other than 9;22. However, in very rare cases, the fourth chromosome is involved. Here, we found a novel case of four-way Ph+ chromosome translocation involving 46,XY,t(4;9;19;22)(q25:q34;p13.3;q11.2) with CML in the chronic phase. Complete blood cell count of the CML patient was carried out to obtain total leukocytes count, hemoglobin, and platelets. Fluorescence in situ hybridization technique was used for the identification of BCR-ABL fusion gene, and cytogenetic test for the confirmation of Ph (9;22)(q34;q11) and the mechanism of variant translocation in the bone marrow. The patient is successfully treated with a dose of 400 mg/day imatinib mesylate (Gleevec). We observed a significant decrease in white blood cell count of 11.7 × 10(9)/L after 48-month follow-up. Patient started feeling better generally. There was a reduction in the swelling of the body, fatigue, and anxiety.

Complex variant of Philadelphia translocation involving chromosomes 9, 12, and 22 in a case with chronic myeloid leukaemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematopoietic stem cell disorder included in the broader diagnostic category of myeloproliferative neoplasms, associated with fusion by BCR gene at chromosome 22q11 to ABL1 gene at chromosome 9q34 with the formation of the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. In 2-10% of CML cases, the fusion gene arises in connection with a variant translocation, involving chromosomes 9, 22, and one or more different chromosomes; consequently, the Ph chromosome could be masked within a complex chromosome rearrangement. In cases with variant Ph translocation a deletion on der(9) may be more frequently observed than in cases with the classical one. Herein we describe a novel case of CML with complex variant Ph translocation involving chromosomes 9, 12, and 22. We present the hematologic response and cytogenetic response after Imatinib treatment. We also speculated the mechanism which had originated the chromosome rearrangement.

Non random distribution of genomic features in breakpoint regions involved in chronic myeloid leukemia cases with variant t(9;22) or additional chromosomal rearrangements

Background

The t(9;22)(q34;q11), generating the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, is found in more than 90% of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). As a result of the translocation, the 3' portion of the ABL1 oncogene is transposed from 9q34 to the 5' portion of the BCR gene on chromosome 22 to form the BCR/ABL1 fusion gene. At diagnosis, in 5-10% of CML patients the Ph chromosome is derived from variant translocations other than the standard t(9;22).

Results

We report a molecular cytogenetic study of 452 consecutive CML patients at diagnosis, that revealed 50 cases identifying three main subgroups: i) cases with variant chromosomal rearrangements other than the classic t(9;22)(q34;q11) (9.5%); ii) cases with cryptic insertions of ABL1 into BCR, or vice versa (1.3%); iii) cases bearing additional chromosomal rearrangements concomitant to the t(9;22) (1.1%). For each cytogenetic group, the mechanism at the basis of the rearrangement is discussed.

All breakpoints on other chromosomes involved in variant t(9;22) and in additional rearrangements have been characterized for the first time by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) experiments and bioinformatic analyses. This study revealed a high content of Alu repeats, genes density, GC frequency, and miRNAs in the great majority of the analyzed breakpoints.

Conclusions

Taken together with literature data about CML with variant t(9;22), our findings identified several new cytogenetic breakpoints as hotspots for recombination, demonstrating that the involvement of chromosomes other than 9 and 22 is not a random event but could depend on specific genomic features. The presence of several genes and/or miRNAs at the identified breakpoints suggests their potential involvement in the CML pathogenesis.

On the genesis and prognosis of variant translocations in chronic myeloid leukemia

Variant translocations involving 9q, 22q, and at least one additional genomic locus occur in 5-10% of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The mechanisms for the formation of these variant translocations are not fully characterized. Studies on the prognosis of these variant translocations revealed conflicting results. In addition, deletions in the derivative chromosome 9 are reportedly more frequent among variant translocation cases. We analyzed cytogenetic and FISH data from 22 CML patients with variant translocations tested at our laboratory. Deletions were observed in 6 of the 14 cases with FISH data available (43%), consistent with the literature and higher than in typical translocation cases (12-15%). Sequential changes of 9q deletions are possible and could be acquired as the disease progresses in addition to simultaneous formation of the Philadelphia chromosome with the deletion. Variant translocation CML patients with a deletion showed a worse cytogenetic response 1 year after therapy than those without a deletion (P < 0.05). Variant translocations may be formed by either a one-step or a two-step mechanism. Proper assessment of the prognostic significance of variant translocations requires better categorization of these translocations based on their mechanisms of genesis and the deletion status.