Comparison of cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic detection of chromosome abnormalities in 240 consecutive adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively compare cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis for the detection of the most relevant chromosome abnormalities in a large series of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).


METHODS
Two hundred forty consecutive adult patients with AML entered onto the multicenter treatment trial AML HD93 were studied. Chromosome banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) applying a comprehensive set of genomic DNA probes were performed in a single reference laboratory.


RESULTS
Two cases of inv(16), three cases of t(11q23), and three cases of t(8;21)var were only detected by molecular cytogenetics. By FISH, aberrations were identified in three cases with normal karyotypes: inv(16), -Y (in a patient with low metaphase yield on chromosome banding) and a 12p microdeletion. Additional aneuploidies, in particular +8q and +11q, were diagnosed by FISH; however, virtually all these aberrations occurred in patients with complex karyotypes or as an additional abnormality in leukemias with an AML-specific translocation. Finally, aberrations were detected by FISH in eight of 14 patients with no assessable metaphases.


CONCLUSIONS
In most cases of AML, conventional cytogenetic study reliably detects chromosomal abnormalities, and this method should not be replaced by FISH. FISH should be used as a complementary method for the detection of more subtle abnormalities, such as inv(16) and t(11q23), in all patients with newly diagnosed AML and for suspected t(8;21)var. Furthermore, molecular cytogenetics using this comprehensive set of DNA probes provides a valuable diagnostic tool for patients with poor chromosome morphology, low or no yields of metaphase cells, or both.
Fröhling
Stefan
S
Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Robert-Koch-Strasse 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
Skelin
Silvia
S
Liebisch
Claudia
C
Scholl
Claudia
C
Schlenk
Richard F
RF
Döhner
Hartmut
H
Döhner
Konstanze
K
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D003582:Cytogenetics; D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007621:Karyotyping; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008967:Molecular Biology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm