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Chromosome Preparation From Cultured Cells
Published on: January 28, 2014
Trisomy 13: a new recurring chromosome abnormality in acute leukemia
H Döhner1, D C Arthur, E D Ball
1Cancer and Leukemia Group B, Boston, MA.
Blood
|October 15, 1990
Summary
Trisomy 13 is a rare chromosome abnormality found in adults with acute leukemia. This finding is associated with a poor prognosis and significantly shorter survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Cytogenetics
- Oncology
Background:
- Acute leukemia is a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies.
- Identifying recurring chromosomal abnormalities aids in understanding disease pathogenesis and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a novel recurring chromosome abnormality in adult de novo acute leukemia.
- To assess the clinical significance and prognostic impact of trisomy 13 in acute leukemia.
Main Methods:
- Karyotyping of 621 adult de novo acute leukemia cases.
- Morphologic review and immunophenotypic analysis (antigen expression, T-cell receptor gene rearrangement, TdT positivity).
- Survival analysis comparing patients with and without trisomy 13.
Main Results:
- Trisomy 13 was identified as the sole cytogenetic abnormality in 8 of 621 patients.
- Leukemias with trisomy 13 showed morphologic and immunophenotypic heterogeneity, with myeloid and lymphoid antigen expression.
- Patients with trisomy 13 had significantly shorter survival (median 9.5 months) compared to other patients (median 16.2 months).
Conclusions:
- Trisomy 13 is a rare, recurring clonal abnormality in acute leukemia associated with a poor prognosis.
- The findings suggest malignant transformation of immature hematopoietic precursor cells.
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