Genetics of lymphocytes influences the emergence of second cancer in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
BACKGROUND
Patients affected by chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have an increased risk of developing a second cancer. There is not a definitive explanation for this phenomenon, although some hypotheses have been postulated. The aim of the present work was to assess the presence of second cancer in untreated patients with CLL who were cytogenetically characterized, and secondly to investigate if there is a correlation between the genetics of CLL and the emergence of second cancer.


METHODS
We performed conventional cytogenetics and Fluorescent in situ hybridization analyses in a series of 106 patients.


RESULTS
We observed that nearly 8% of cases developed second cancer, mostly epithelial tumors. The majority of them presented two common features, del(13)(q14.3) and the presence of at least two genetic alterations.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that the genetic background of CLL, particularly the presence of several genetic alterations, influences the emergence of second cancer in patients affected by CLL.
Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Genetics Department, Cra. Valldemossa 79, 07120 Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Balearic islands, Spain. marta.bernues@ssib.es.
Marta
M
Bernués
Maria Antònia
MA
Durán
Guiomar
G
Puget
Julio
J
Iglesias
Pilar
P
Galán
Francisco Javier
FJ
Vercher
Joan
J
Besalduch
Jordi
J
Rosell
D059786:Abnormal Karyotype; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003582:Cytogenetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000235:genetics*
CLL; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; genetics; second cancer