Cytogenetic abnormalities in three patients with B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia

We present the cytological features, conventional cytogenetics, and in situ hybridization (ISH) findings of three cases of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL). The diagnosis was made according to the French-American-British (FAB) criteria. We considered a diagnosis of B-PLL when a predominance (> 50%) of lymphoid cells with coarse chromatin but prominent central nucleoli and more abundant cytoplasm than typical chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells were present. B-PLL express strong SIg, B-cell antigens, and reactivity with the monoclonal antibody FMC7. Chromosome analysis was carried out on lymphoid cells from peripheral blood and, in one patient, from lymph node. The phytohemagglutinin (PHA) mitogen was used. ISH was performed with two types of probes: the biotin-labeled chromosome 12-specific alpha satellite DNA probe to detect trisomy 12, and biotin-labeled libraries of whole chromosomes 1, 7, and 14. Clonal chromosome abnormalities were found in all three patients; in one, a complex karyotype was observed. The most frequent recurrent abnormality was trisomy 12. Our results suggest that PLL usually presents with cytogenetic abnormalities. The finding of translocation (11;14) is noteworthy; chromosomes 1 and 3 are also involved.