Cytogenetic evolution patterns in CML post-SCT

The cytogenetic evolution patterns in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after allogeneic (allo) stem cell transplantation (SCT) are different from the ones observed in non-transplanted patients, a phenomenon suggested to be caused by the conditioning regime. We reviewed 131 CMLs displaying karyotypic evolution after SCT (122 allo, nine autologous (auto)), treated at Lund University Hospital or reported in the literature. Major route abnormalities (i.e., +8, +Ph, i(17q), +19, +21, +17 and -7) were seen in 14%, balanced aberrations in 61%, hyperdiploidy in 19%, pseudodiploidy in 79%, divergent clones in 14%, and Ph-negative clones in 21%. The breakpoints involved in secondary structural rearrangements clustered at 1q21, 1q32, 7q22, 9q34, 11q13, 11q23, 12q24, 13q14, 17q10 and 22q11. Cytogenetic abnormalities common in AML after genotoxic exposure, that is, der(1;7)(q10;p10), del(3p), -5, del(5q), -7, -17, der(17p), -18, and -21, were only rarely seen post-SCT. Comparing the cytogenetic features in relation to type of SCT revealed that balanced aberrations were significantly more common after allo than after auto SCT (64 and 22%, respectively, P=0.03). In addition, there was a trend as regards hyperdiploidy being more common after auto (P=0.07) and pseudodiploidy being more frequent after allo SCT (P=0.09). Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.