Chronic lymphocytic leukemia with t(14;18) and trisomy 12.
The chromosomal abnormality t(14;18) is most commonly associated with neoplasms of follicular center cell origin. However, t(14;18) also has been reported in rare cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In 2215 cases of CLL studied by conventional cytogenetics in our institution, we identified 2 cases of CLL carrying t(14;18). Both patients were men, aged 52 and 71 years at the time of diagnosis. One patient presented with leukemia and the other primarily with nodal disease. In addition to t(14;18), trisomy 12 (+12) was identified in the same clone in both cases. Atypical morphologic features were identified: case 1 contained more than 15% lymphoid cells with cleaved nuclei, whereas case 2 contained more than 15% plasmacytoid lymphoid cells. The immunophenotype of case 2 was also unusual for CLL, showing weak CD23 expression and FMC7 positivity. We identified 6 other t(14;18)-carrying CLL cases in the literature; 2 had t(14;18) as the sole abnormality and 2 contained +12 as the additional abnormality. To conclude, cases of CLL carrying t(14;18) are exceedingly rare, and +12 appears to be the most common cytogenetic abnormality coexisting with t(14;18) in CLL.
Sen
Filiz
F
Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
Lai
Raymond
R
Albitar
Maher
M
D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002881:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D014314:Trisomy