Published online 25 August 2008
Haematologica, Vol 93, Issue 11, 1734-1738 doi:10.3324/haematol.13227
Copyright © 2008 by Ferrata Storti Foundation
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Brief Reports

An investigation into whether deletions in 9p reflect prognosis in adult precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a multi-center study of 381 patients

Hareth Nahi1, Hans Hägglund1, Thomas Ahlgren2, Per Bernell1, Mats Hardling3, Karin Karlsson4, Vladimir Lj Lazarevic5, Mats Linderholm6, Bengt Smedmyr7, Maria Åström8, Helene Hallböök7

1 Department of Haematology, Karolinska University Hospital
2 Department of Haematology, Malmö University Hospital
3 Department of Haematology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
4 Department of Haematology, Lund University Hospital
5 Department of Haematology, Umeå University Hospital
6 Department of Haematology, Linköping University Hospital
7 Department of Haematology, Uppsala University Hospital and
8 Department of Hematology, Örebro University Hospital, Sweden

Correspondence: Hareth Nahi, M.D., Haematology Centre, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge,141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail:hareth.nahi{at}karolinska.se

ABSTRACT

In acute lymphoblastic leukemia, besides age and white cell count at diagnosis, the cytogenetic abnormalities t(9;22)/BCR-ABL and t(4;11)/MLL-AF4 are important prognostic markers and are often included in the treatment stratification of patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Deletions in 9p are seen in about 9% of cases of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but their prognostic impact has been controversial. Cytogenetic data from 381 patients diagnosed with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia were reviewed. Chromosomal analysis was successful in 240 cases. Of these cases, 18 (8%) had abnormalities in 9p and they were compared with patients with normal karyotypes and patients with t(9;22)/BCR-ABL. Patients with abnormalities of chromosome 9 showed significantly shorter overall survival compared with patients with normal karyotypes. In fact, overall survival was similar to that in the poor prognosis t(9;22)/BCR-ABL-positive group. Our data suggest that chromosomal abnormalities involving 9p may have a significant negative impact on survival in adult B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Key words: p14ARF, p53, 9p21, leukemia.