Sex chromosome changes after sex-mismatched allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can mislead the chimerism analysis

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010 Dec 1;55(6):1239-42. doi: 10.1002/pbc.22617.

Abstract

A 12-year-old male with pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with cryptic BCR/ABL rearrangement underwent sex-mismatched allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). Contradictory results were provided by various chimerism analyses 3 months later. Y-chromosome-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction and sex chromosome-specific interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (i-FISH) showed complete donor chimerism. Analysis of autosomal short tandem repeats (A-STR), BCR/ABL i-FISH test, and X-STR haplotype indicated relapse. Metaphase-FISH and combined BCR/ABL and sex chromosome-specific i-FISH patterns revealed loss of the Y-chromosome and duplication of the X-chromosome in the host cells. Sex chromosome changes after allo-BMT can cause significant difficulties in chimerism analysis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Child
  • Chimera*
  • Chromosomes, Human, X / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Y / genetics
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / genetics
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Sex Determination Analysis*
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences / genetics
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl