Cytogenetic evidence for a less malignant leukemic cell population in the central nervous system in a critical case of acute myeloblastic leukemia.
BACKGROUND
With the exception of a single study the cytogenetic aspects of leukemic cells in the central nervous system (CNS) have not been investigated.


RESULTS
During the course of a work-in-progress on the chromosomal constitution both of the spinal fluid and of bone marrow (BM) in children with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), we have observed a unique case of AML and CNS leukemia (CNSL) at diagnosis. The patient showed the simultaneous presence at diagnosis of a 46 cytogenetic line in the spinal fluid and a 47 (+8) cell line in the BM, present in the great majority of the metaphases examined.


CONCLUSIONS
This observation allows hypotheses on the relationship between BM and CNS disease in AML. Regardless of the pathogenetic mechanism, the cytogenetic findings of the present case clearly suggest that the leukemic population in the CNS compartment represents a less malignant cell process compared to the BM leukemic population. This easily fits in with the usually less malignant course of CNSL in AML.


CONCLUSIONS
The foregoing findings may have critical pathogenetic and therapeutic implications.
Mastrangelo
R
R
Division of Pediatric Oncology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Tornesello
A
A
Mastrangelo
S
S
Bembo
V
V
Zollino
M
M
Neri
G
G
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*