[Changes in the long arm of chromosome 3 (3q) in malignant myeloid hemopathies. A study of 10 cases].
BACKGROUND
Abnormalities of the long arm of chromosome 3 (3q) involving bands 3q21 and/or 3q26 occur in 2-6% of myeloid malignancies. Trilineage myelodysplasia, especially in the megakaryocytic line, is a characteristic feature. Additional abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and 7 are usually present. The response to treatment and prognosis are poor.


METHODS
The main clinical, cytologic (bone marrow aspirate and biopsy) and cytogenetic characteristics as well as the response to the treatment in 10 patients with 3q abnormalities diagnosed in a single hospital in a period of 8 years are referred.


RESULTS
Eight patients had acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia, being de novo in five of them. The median value of hemoglobin was 87 g/l (range: 51-148), white blood cells count 5.8 x 10(9)/l (1.2-47.1) and platelet count 34 x 10(9)/l (5-182). The morphological findings in the study of the bone marrow were: dyserythropoietic features (7 patients), dysgranulopoietic abnormalities (5 patients) and small-sized megakaryocytes with hypolobulated nuclei (8 patients). Fibrosis was observed in the 4 cases in which a bone marrow biopsy was performed. In addition to the 3q alteration, abnormalities of chromosomes 7 (4 patients), 5q (2 patients) and +8 (2 patients) were present. Four patients received intensive chemotherapy and in two of them a complete remission was achieved, but relapse occurred at 3 and 5 months, respectively. All patients have died, the median survival being 7 months.


CONCLUSIONS
3q abnormalities define a subtype of myeloid malignancies with characteristic clinical and morphological features. The response to therapy and survival are poor.
Sancho
J M
JM
Servicio de Hematología-Hemoterapia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona.
Granada
I
I
Ribera
J M
JM
Batlle
M
M
Hernández
J A
JA
Navarro
J T
JT
Fernández
F
F
Millá
F
F
Feliu
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*; D002893:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis