[Two cases of acute myeloid leukemia with t(16;21)(p11;q22) and TLS/FUS-ERG fusion transcripts]

Korean J Lab Med. 2009 Oct;29(5):390-5. doi: 10.3343/kjlm.2009.29.5.390.
[Article in Korean]

Abstract

Many AML-associated chromosomal abnormalities, such as t(8;21), t(15;17), inv(16), t(9;11), t(9;22) and t(6;9) are well known. The chromosomal aberration of t(16;21)(p11;q22) in AML is rare and it is known to be associated with poor prognosis, young age (median age, 22 yr), and involvement of various subtypes of the French-American-British classification. We report here 2 AML patients with t(16;21)(p11;q22), proved by conventional cytogenetics and/or reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Erythrophagocytosis by leukemic blasts was observed in both of the cases. One patient was a 24 yr-old male with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. His karyotype was 46,XY,t(16;21)(p11;q22),del(18)(p11.2) and RT-PCR revealed the TLS/FUS-ERG fusion transcripts. Although he received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation after the first remission, he died 9 months after the initial diagnosis due to relapse of the disease and graft-versus-host disease. The other patient was a 72 yr-old male with acute myeloid leukemia without maturation. His karyotype was 45,XY,-16,add(21)(q22) and the presence of t(16;21)(p11;q22) was detected by RT-PCR. He was transferred to another hospital with no more follow-up. We suggest that the presence of t(16;21)(p11;q22) and/or TLS/FUS-ERG fusion transcripts has to be considered in cases of AML with erythrophagocytosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / genetics*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Karyotyping
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Male
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / genetics*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Translocation, Genetic*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS
  • TLS-ERG fusion protein, human