Constitutional chromosome rearrangements that mimic the 2017 world health organization "acute myeloid leukemia with recurrent genetic abnormalities": A study of three cases and review of the literature

Cancer Genet. 2019 Jan:230:37-46. doi: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2018.11.005. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Abstract

Objectives: To identify and characterize constitutional chromosomal rearrangements that mimic recurrent genetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods: Bone marrow and blood chromosome studies were reviewed to identify constitutional rearrangements that resemble those designated by the 2017 revised World Health Organization (WHO) "AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities". Mate-pair sequencing (MPseq) was performed on cases with constitutional chromosome mimics of recurrent AML abnormalities to further define the rearrangement breakpoints.

Results: Three cases with constitutional rearrangements were identified, including t(6;9)(p23;q34), inv(16)(p13.1q22), and t(9;22)(q34.1;q12.2). Two cases were bone marrow specimens being evaluated for hematologic neoplasms, while one case was a blood specimen being evaluated for primary ovarian insufficiency. MPseq provided high-resolution and precise rearrangement breakpoints, and resolved the atypical FISH results generated with each rearrangement.

Conclusions: Our findings illustrate that constitutional rearrangements can mimic recurrent genetic abnormalities observed in AML, and we emphasize the importance of correlating genetic data with clinical and hematopathologic information.

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; Constitutional translocation mimics; Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH); Mate-pair sequencing (MPseq).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Chromosome Aberrations*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 / genetics
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Gene Rearrangement*
  • Humans
  • Karyotyping / methods
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged