Acquired Robertsonian translocations in hematologic malignancy. A rare mechanism of clonal evolution

We identified three patients with an acquired Robertsonian translocation among 1,200 patients with hematopoietic malignancy. In each case the translocation served to produce partial chromosomal trisomy or tetrasomy within the malignant clone. Acquired Robertsonian translocation represents another, although rare, mechanism of clonal evolution in malignant cells.