Loss of the Y chromosome in Philadelphia-positive cells predicts a poor response of chronic myeloid leukemia patients to imatinib mesylate therapy.

In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), cytogenetic abnormalities found in addition to the t(9;22) translocation may impact the response to therapy. Loss of the Y chromosome is generally overlooked in this context, owing to its relatively frequent occurrence in healthy elderly patients. In this multicenter retrospective study, the outcome after imatinib treatment of 30 CML patients with karyotype showing Y chromosome loss (Y-) was compared to 30 Y+ control males diagnosed and treated at the same time in the same institutions. Y- patients had significantly delayed cytogenetic and molecular responses, lower event-free survival and shorter overall survival than Y+ patients. The negative impact of this abnormality was particularly marked when it occurred in a sub-clone (clonal evolution) rather than in all mitoses. These data indicate that loss of the Y chromosome should be taken into account in the prognostic evaluation of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients.