ISSN 2997-1036
International Journal of Hematology | Vol. 2, No. 7, July 2011 | pp. 49–56
DOI: 10.46882/2011/IJH/000019
Original Article
Title: Cytogenetic profile of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A multicenter collaborative analysis
Names of Authors: W. A. Adebayo¹, X. Y. Garba², Z. Z. Salami³
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Haematology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; ²Department of Pathology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria; ³Department of Haematology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract: Cytogenetic abnormalities are important independent prognostic factors that guide risk-stratified therapy in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This multicenter collaborative study analyzed bone marrow karyotypes of 76 adult patients with newly diagnosed B-cell and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia using conventional G-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Abnormal karyotypes were identified in 68.4% of patients (52 of 76). The Philadelphia chromosome, t(9;22)(q34;q11.2) resulting in BCR-ABL1, was the most frequent aberration, occurring in 26.3% of cases and correlating with an older median age (42 years). The t(4;11)(q21;q23) KMT2A rearrangement was detected in 7.9% of patients, while high hyperdiploidy (51 to 65 chromosomes) occurred in 11.8%. Patients with the Philadelphia chromosome or KMT2A rearrangements showed significantly lower 1-year induction remission rates (45.0% versus 81.2% in normal karyotype cohorts, P < 0.01). This study confirms a high prevalence of adverse-risk cytogenetic abnormalities in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia, underscoring the need for routine molecular cytogenetic screening to guide targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor interventions.
Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, cytogenetics, Philadelphia chromosome, karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization
Manuscript Timeline: Received: April 18, 2011; Revised: May 22, 2011; Accepted: June 14, 2011; Published: July 21, 2011