Serial cytogenetic studies in allografted patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Serial marrow karyotyping was performed in 31 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Of 11 hematological relapses, seven were heralded for up to 20 months by a cytogenetic relapse (characterized by increasing percentages of Philadelphia (Ph)-positive metaphases, seen on serial karyotypes). Chromosomal abnormalities additional to the Ph, seen before BMT, were not found again at relapse. Relapses were characterized by clonal evolutions of the Ph-positive cells, likely corresponding to cytogenetic patterns of treatment-induced leukemia [del(5q), del(7q), complex karyotypes] and were different from those generally found in CML evolution. Involvement of chromosome 1 was also frequent. Sporadic Ph-positive metaphases (not seen in repeated karyotypes) were seen only during the first 8 months after BMT.