Prognostic significance of chromosome abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Abstract

Lymphocytes from 33 out of 63 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) were successfully stimulated for cytogenetic analysis by means of two B-cell mitogens: pokeweed mitogen and lipopolysaccharide-B, used after pretreatment of the cells with neuraminidase and galactose oxidase. All patients had abnormal clones in 30-100% of the cells analysed. Chromosomes more frequently involved were Nos. 1, 3, 6, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The most common abnormality was a marker 14q+ (breakpoint 14q32) seen in 17 cases; trisomy 12 was observed in seven cases. A clinical scoring system was used to investigate the correlation of chromosome abnormalities with prognosis. The group with 14q+ was often associated with features of progressive disease, namely; prolymphocytoid or Richter transformation, refractoriness to therapy, high WBC and advanced staging. A significant difference in survival was observed between patients with 14q+ and the rest: median survival from diagnosis being 45 months and over 64 months, respectively (P less than 0.05); when survival was calculated from the time of chromosome analysis the values were 8 months and more than 41 months, respectively (P less than 0.01). It is suggested that 14q+ is acquired during the evolution of CLL and that this development may be a key event in the clinical progression of B-CLL. Other abnormalities, including trisomy 12, were not found to be associated with a worse prognosis.

Chromosomal translocations are associated with poor prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

“…Furthermore, it has been found that CLL patients with a translocation involving 14q32 have poorer prognosis. 7,35,36 This subgroup had the same poor prognosis as other patients with translocations in our analysis.…”

Contribution of Comparative Genomic Hybridization and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization to the Detection of Chromosomal Abnormalities in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

“…Deletion of 11q in CLL has been previously reported with a varying frequency. Hernandez et al [27] found deletion of 11q in 12% of patients, Pittman and Catovsky [21] in 9% and Juliusson and Gahrton [9] in 6% of available patients. These differences are the results of using CC with G-banding by which some deletions had been missed.…”

Cloning of the chromosome translocation breakpoint junction of the t(14;19) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

“…In B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a gain of chromosome 12 and translocations involving 14q32 are the most frequent chromosomal aberrations (5,6). The presence of karyotypic abnormalities is associated with a poor prognosis.…”