Complex chromosome 8;21 translocation with associated hyperdiploidy in acute myeloid leukemia (FAB-M2)

Abstract

We present a case of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML-M2) with a complex t(8;21) translocation and additional acquired chromosomes yielding a hyperdiploid karyotype. AML1/ETO transcript was observed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), spectral karyotyping (SKY), and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) were performed to further identify the chromosomes observed by G banding. The patient was treated according to our current protocol for AML. He remains in complete remission +11 months from diagnosis. Further follow-up of this patient and the analysis of a larger number of children are needed to define whether the gains of the specific extra chromosomes modify the good prognosis that t(8;21) confers to this subgroup of AML.