Trisomy 6 in a CML patient receiving imatinib mesylate therapy

The emergence of chromosome abnormalities in Philadelphia-negative cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients during imatinib therapy have been described by several authors. While these abnormalities are frequently transient, in rare instances they may be presented on repeated occasions suggesting the possibility of the development of a new malignant clone. We describe a patient with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia diagnosed in 1998, in whom multiple clonal abnormalities were identified in Ph-negative cells while on imatinib therapy. The patient developed lymphoid blast crisis associated with an additional Ph chromosome and trisomy 6 in Ph-negative cells. Our results further reinforce the importance of serial chromosomal studies in patients receiving new therapies which may ultimately lead to alternative therapies.