Frequency and type of chromosomal abnormalities in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients in Kuwait: a six-year retrospective study

To characterize the frequency of genetic profiles in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] patients in Kuwait. This review presents the general cytogenetic characteristics of 164 pediatric patients diagnosed as having ALL in a 6-year period. Chromosomal and fluorescence in situ hybridization studies were made on bone marrow aspirates at diagnosis and during different stages of the disease. Recurring aberrations, observed in 123 [75%] patients, included hyperdiploidy [n = 68, 41%], tetraploidy [n = 12, 7.3%], hypodiploidy [n = 2, 1.2%], TEL-AMU fusion [n = 11, 7%], mixed-lineage leukemia rearrangement [n - 6, 3.6%], t[9;22] [n - 4, 2.4%], t[1;19] [n - 3, 1.8%], t[8;14] or t[8;22] [n = 2, 1.2%], +21 [n - 2, 1.2%], del[6] [n = 2,1.2%] and miscellaneous abnormalities [n = 9,5%].The highest observed numerical chromosome abnormality was high hyperdiploidy in 89 patients [54%] with abnormal karyotype while the TEL-AML fusion was the highest observed structural abnormality. This study showed that clonal anomalies detected in pediatric ALL have shown correlations between specific abnormalities and clinicobiological characteristics of the patients

Therapy related acute myeloblastic leukemia following gestational trophoblastic tumor: Possible role of high cumulative dose of etoposide

The development of secondary acute myeloblastic leukemia [sAML] following chemotherapy of a gestational trophoblastic tumor [GTT] is rare. Alkylating drugs are known leukemogenic agents and epipodophyllotoxins have been implicated in the causation of a distinct subset of sAML. We report a case of s AML following treatment of a gestational trophoblastic tumor with multiagent chemotherapy including alkylating agents and a high dose of etoposide. The leukemia was characterized as myelomonocytic leukemia [FAB- M4] with a normal chromosomal pattern and without any preceding myelodysplastic phase. The leukemia developed 3 years and 6 months after the first etoposide exposure. Continuous exposure to etoposide following administration of other cytotoxic drugs including alkylating drugs may increase the risk of sAML