Molecular, Cytogenetic, and Hematological Analysis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients and Discovery of Two Novel Translocations

The first case of six-way complex translocation of t(4;7;9;22;8;14) in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia

In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), patients exhibit the t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2) translocation, resulting in the formation of a Philadelphia chromosome (Ph). However, a subset of CML patients display variant complex translocations, characterized by three-way, four-way, and five-way translocations, which have been occasionally associated with a poor prognosis. This case report presents the first case of a t(9;22) variant six-way complex translocation in CML. The R banding chromosome karyotyping technique was used to obtain preliminary karyotyping results, and the multi-probe FISH technique was used to assist in the verification of chromosome results. Both FISH and PCR proved the existence of fusion genes. A 45-year-old male patient admitted to our hospital due to elevated WBC and anemia. Bone marrow smears revealed a significant proliferation of mature granulocytes, accompanied by an increase in eosinophils and basophils. Karyotype analysis indicated abnormalities in six chromosomes, including 4, 7, 8, 9, 14, and 22. Further analysis using FISH technology demonstrated the presence of the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene, as well as the mapping of the BCR (22q11), MYC (8q24), IGH (14q32), D4S163 (4q35.1), and D7S486 (7q31) genes to new chromosomes. Ultimately, the karyotype findings were described as t(4;7;9;22;8;14)(q27;q22;q34;q11;q22;q12). PCR showed that BCR::ABL1 was p210. After treatment with imatinib for 4 months, the patient achieved complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and early molecular response (EMR). This is the first report of complex chromosomal karyotype involving six-way translocation in CML; the combination of chromosome analysis and FISH techniques is an effective strategy in determining the karyotype result.

Cytogenetical and hematological analysis of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients with a novel case 52XX, t (1;9;22) (q23.3; q34; q11.2), +6, +8, i(9) (q10;q10), +18,+19,+21+der22 t(9;22)(q34;q11)

(9;22) (q34; q11) translocation is appear in above ninety percent of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients while variant/complex translocations were observed in almost 5% to 8% chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) positive cases. Gleevec (Imatinib Mesylate) is the first choice breakpoint cluster region (BCR)/ABL targeted oral therapy that produced a complete response almost in 71% to 80% of patients affected with CML. A complete blood count (CBC) of 37 patients was done during diagnosis, however only 21 showed abnormal CBC values which were selected for the study. Karyotyping study using bone marrow samples was performed on 21 CML patients for the conformation of 9;22, however, fluorescence in situ hybridisation was performed for the detection of the BCR-ABL fusion gene of 15 patients. Out of 21, 17 patients showed Ph-positive (9;22) (q34; q11) translocation. Sixteen CML patients showed standard translocation however only CML patients showed a three-way variant/complex translocation with six additional chromosomes, 52XX, t(1;9;22) (q23.3;q34;q11),+6,+8, i(9)(q10;q10), +18,+19,+21 + der22 t(9;22)(q34;q11)). Here we report we report a novel case of six additional chromosomes with the three-way translocation of 52XX, t(1;9;22) (q23.3;q34;q11),+6,+8, i(9)(q10;q10), +18,+19,+21 + der22 t(9;22)(q34;q11) in blast phase.

COVID-19 Impact on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients

(1) Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a blood dyscrasia that accounts for about 20% of all leukemia cases. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used as first line treatment of CML. The 2019 SARS-CoV-2 outbreak raised new concerns for CML patients, such as whether CML increases the risk of contracting COVID-19, whether TKIs increase that risk, whether these drugs are safe to use during the infection, and whether any other hematologic parameters influence infection outcomes. (2) Methods: In our study we addressed these intriguing questions by using a retrospective analysis of 51 CML patients treated at the Ion Chiricuta Cancer Center, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of currently approved COVID-19 vaccines in our CML patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. (3) Results: Our results have shown that hemoglobin level upon diagnosis of CML has been the only hematologic parameter correlated to the risk of contracting COVID-19 in our CML patients. (4) Conclusions: TKI treatment did not negatively influence COVID-19 risk or the response to the vaccine in our patients. The safety profile of the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines was similar to that of the general population.