Immunophenotypic Features of Myeloid Neoplasms Associated with Chromosome 7 Abnormalities

Abnormalities involving chromosome 7 are one of the most frequent chromosomal aberrations in myeloid neoplasms including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and are associated with an adverse prognosis. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry provides data that can assist in the diagnosis and classification of myeloid neoplasms. The immunophenotypic features of myeloid neoplasms with monosomy 7 or del(7q) have not been previously described in a comprehensive fashion.

We retrospectively analyzed flow cytometric data of myeloid neoplasms with monosomy 7 or del(7q) and summarized associated immunophenotypic features.

Myeloid neoplasms with monosomy 7 typically demonstrate multiple immunophenotypic abnormalities on myeloid blasts and maturing myelomonocytic cells. Increased CD14 expression on maturing granulocytic cells was characteristically seen in myeloid neoplasms with monosomy 7. This abnormality was significantly more frequent in myeloid neoplasms with monosomy 7 than in those with del(7q) (92.9% vs. 8.2%, P < 0.0001). The presence of increased CD14 expression on maturing granulocytic cells could be seen in cases with monosomy 7 in the setting of a normal blast percentage and when minimal (<3) other immunophenotypic abnormalities were seen on myeloid populations.

Increased CD14 expression on maturing granulocytic cells can be helpful in identifying patients with myeloid neoplasms who have monosomy 7. © 2019 International Clinical Cytometry Society.