Trisomy 21 as a sole acquired abnormality in an adult Omani patient with CD7- and CD9-positive acute myeloid leukemia

Severe aplastic anemia preceding acute monocytic leukemia in an adult with acquired trisomy 21: A case report

The current case report presents a patient with acute monocytic leukemia (AML-M5) occurring 14 years following the successful treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) with immunosuppressants and androgens. The patient was treated with induction chemotherapy, but did not achieve remission. The patient succumbed to central nervous system bleeding 2 weeks following the first cycle of chemotherapy. Chromosomal examination revealed 47,XX,+21[10]/46,XX[1]. To the best of our knowledge the present case is the first to be reported of SAA 14 years preceding AML-M5 with acquired trisomy 21.

Biological and clinical features of trisomy 21 in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia

INTRODUCTION

Trisomy 21 is frequently noted in patients with AML. In adults, +21 has traditionally been considered an intermediate-risk cytogenetic aberration.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed 90 patients with newly diagnosed AML harboring +21. Four cytogenetic subgroups were defined based on associated cytogenetic abnormalities: +21 alone, +21 with favorable, +21 with intermediate, and +21 with unfavorable cytogenetics.

RESULTS

Fifty-four percent of patients with +21 AML achieved a complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp) after induction therapy with a trend toward improved CR/CRp rates in patients with +21 alone/+21 with favorable cytogenetics compared with patients with +21 with intermediate/+21 with unfavorable cytogenetics (76% vs. 50%; P = .057). Time to progression (TTP) was 12 months (range, 5-19) and overall survival (OS) was 9 months (range, 7-11) for the entire group. TTP was longer for patients with +21 alone (not reached) or with +21 with favorable cytogenetics (101 months) compared with those with +21 with intermediate cytogenetics (2 months) or +21 with unfavorable cytogenetics (11 months) (P = .02). Similarly, OS was improved in patients with +21 with favorable cytogenetics (not reached) or +21 alone (107 months), compared with +21 with unfavorable cytogenetics (9 months) or +21 with intermediate cytogenetics (8 months) (P < .001). The differences in TTP and OS were maintained on multivariate analysis (P = .04 and P = .001; respectively).

CONCLUSION

Isolated +21 hitherto classified as intermediate-risk cytogenetics might actually behave as a favorable-risk cytogenetics in adult AML patients.

CD19-positive acute myeloblastic leukemia with trisomy 21 as a sole acquired karyotypic abnormality

We report that a 63-year-old Chinese female had acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) in which trisomy 21 (+21) was found as the sole acquired karyotypic abnormality. The blasts were positive for myeloperoxidase, and the immunophenotype was positive for cluster of differentiation 19 (CD19), CD33, CD34, and human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-DR. The chromosomal analysis of bone marrow showed 47,XX,+21[2]/46,XX[18]. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that three copies of AML1 were situated in separate chromosomes, and that t(8;21) was negative. The patient did not have any features of Down syndrome. A diagnosis of CD19-positive AML-M5 was established with trisomy 21 as a sole acquired karyotypic abnormality. The patient did not respond well to chemotherapy and died three months after the diagnosis. This is the first reported case of CD19-positive AML with trisomy 21 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality. The possible prognostic significance of the finding in AML with +21 as the sole acquired karyotypic abnormality was discussed.