Complex translocation (6;21;8), a variant of t(8;21), with trisomy 4 in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (M2)

The t(8;21)(q22;q22) is the second-most frequently observed nonrandom karyotypic abnormality associated with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), especially in FAB M2. Trisomy 4 is also a specific chromosomal abnormality for AML FAB MZ or M4. I Ve experienced a 37-year-old woman with a morphologically AML FAB M2 carrying a rare complex translocation (6;21;8)(p21;q22;q22) resulting in AML1 gene rearrangement. A subclone with an additional chromosomal abnormality, trisomy 4, was also revealed. Similarly to the typical t(8;21), a conventional chemotherapy successfully induced into complete remission associated with a recovery of normal karyotype, 46,XX, although AML1/MTG8 (ETO) chimera mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1999. All rights reserved.