[Co-occurrence of t(8;21)(q22;q22) and t(9;22)(q34;q11) in a case with chronic myelogenous leukemia].

OBJECTIVE

To delineate laboratory and clinical characteristics of a case with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and co-occurrence of t(9;22)(q34;q11) and t(8;21)(q22;q22).

METHODS

The patient was subjected to cytogenetic, molecular, morphological and immunophenotypic analyses.

RESULTS

Cytogenetic analysis revealed presence of t(8;21)(q22;q22) in addition to t(9;22)(q34;q11) in the patient. Chimeric BCR/ABL and AML1/ETO genes were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Transcripts of BCR/ABL210 and AML1/ETO fusion genes were detected by relative quantity PCR. Morphological study suggested that the patient was at the chronic phase of CML. No significant immunophenotypic abnormality was detected by flow cytometry.

CONCLUSION

Co-occurrence of t(8;21)(q22;q22) and t(9;22)(q34;q11) is rare in CML. Only 5 similar cases have been described previously. This case suggested that chromosomal alterations may precede morphological, flow cytometric and clinical changes and accelerate progression of the disease.