Oligoclonal B-cell leukemia characterized by spontaneous cell division and telomere association.
Cytogenetic analysis of unstimulated cultures from a female patient with chronic B-cell leukemia (CLL) revealed three cytogenetically distinct clones, suggesting that the patient's leukemia was oligoclonal. Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement studies revealed 1 germline and 4 rearranged bands, indicative of an oligoclonal leukemic population. Further evidence of oligoclonality was provided by X-linked RFLP studies. This is the first report of oligoclonality in CLL demonstrated by cytogenetic, immunoglobulin gene rearrangement, and X-chromosome inactivation studies. In addition to oligoclonality, the patient's leukemic cells exhibited telomere association, a Robertsonian translocation, and clonal evolution, suggesting an underlying genomic instability.
Crossen
P E
PE
Cytogenetic and Molecular Oncology Unit, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand.
Tully
S M
SM
Benjes
S M
SM
Hollings
P E
PE
Beard
M E
ME
Nimmo
J C
JC
Morrison
M J
MJ
D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D014960:X Chromosome