New variant translocation (1;8;21) in a case of acute myeloblastic leukemia (M2)

A new translocation involving chromosome #1, #8, and #21 in a patient with type M2 acute myeloblastic leukemia is reported. The breakpoint of #1 in this case was at band p13 and differed from that in two previously reported cases of t(1;8;21) involving the long arm of #1. A key event leading to the development of the M2 phenotype appears to be a break at band q22 of #8 with associated translocation of the terminal end of the long arm of #21.