Y Chromosome Loss in Childhood Leukaemias

Abstract

During the past 3 1/2 years cytogenetic studies have been performed on all children with leukaemia prior to treatment. Loss of the Y chromosome documented by chromosome banding techniques, was observed in bone marrow blast cells from two of II consecutive male children. On patient had acute myeloblastic leukaemia of t(8;21) type. The other patient was diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Our studies provide evidence that Y loss occurs in childhood leukemias and is not necessarily related to an ageing process as suggested by others. Futhermore, this study demonstrates that Y loss can occur as a sole abnormality in non-myeloid leukaemia.

Loss of the Y chromosome in a cultured human salivary‐gland adenocarcinoma

“…Loss of the Y chromosome has also been observed in other human neoplasms, particularly in different types of leukemias (Rowley 1974, Hossfeld & Wendehorst 1974, Sakurai & Sandberg 1976, Padre-Mendoza et al 1979, Abe et al 1980, Sandberg 1980. Y loss has also been observed in solid tumours, though in a lower frequency (Sailyei & Vass 1972, Atkin 1973, Mark 1974, Zankl et al 1975, Kakati et al 1977, Mark et al 1981a.…”

“…Y loss has also been observed in solid tumours, though in a lower frequency (Sailyei & Vass 1972, Atkin 1973, Mark 1974, Zankl et al 1975, Kakati et al 1977, Mark et al 1981a. Excepting certain leukemias (Padre-Mendoza et al 1979, Sandberg 1980), a Y loss has usually been found together with other numerical and/or structural deviations. In fact, in solid tumours, a loss of the Y chromosome as the only chromosomal deviation, has previously only been recognized in one case, viz., an oligodendroglioma (Mark 1974).…”