CHROMOSOMAL-ABERRATIONS IN ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA - RELATIONSHIP TO THE CLINICAL SEVERITY

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (3) , 649-654
Abstract
A chromosome study was performed in 18 patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL), who were divided into 3 groups according to their clinical manifestations: 9 had cute ATL, 6 had chronic ATL, and 3 had smoldering ATL. Mitotic cells were obtained from peripheral blood, lymph node, or bone marrow and were analayzed by the G-banding technique. In acute ATL the chromosome number ranged from diploid or pseudodiploid to hyperdiploid; in the chronic type, from hypodiploid to hyperdiploid; but in the smoldering type, it was diploid. Eight of 9 patients with acute ATL had trisomy 3 and/or trisomy 7, whereas none of those with chronic ATL exhibited these aberrations. Patients with smoldering ATL had a normal karyotype. The more aggressive the clinical course of ATL, the more complex the numerical and structural chromosome abnormality.