Extra Y chromosome in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We describe a 66-year-old man who developed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with a sole clonal chromosomal abnormality of 47,XY,+Y. Leukemic cells were positive for CD2, CD7, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and cytoplasmic CD3. T-cell receptor beta, gamma, and delta genes remained germline configurations. The bone marrow aspirate was 47,XY,+Y in all metaphase cells observed. The patient achieved complete remission by chemotherapy, and the bone marrow cells and the phytohemagglutinin stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes showed a normal karyotype of 46,XY at that time. This fact suggests that an extra Y chromosome may be a kind of new chromosomal abnormality of T-cell ALL.