Cytogenetic Features Of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

ObjectiveTo study the cytogenetic features of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Methods1. Peripheral blood or bone marrow cells of 92 patients with CLL were cultured for 72h with phytohemagglutinin A (PHA), CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) and CpG-ODN combined with interleukin-2 (IL-2), respectively. Routine karyotype analysis with R-banding technique was performed. The relationship of conventional cytogenetic (CC) results and clinical data was investigated.2 Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and a panel of 6 probes were used to investigate the cytotegetic features of the above 92 patients, and the results of FISH were compared with those of CC.Results1. The metaphase number≥20 was considered as successful stimulation. Among the 92 CLL patients, successful stimulation rate for PHA, CpG-ODN and CpG-ODN combined IL-2 groups was 85.9%, 66.3% and 66.3%, respectively. The rate of chromosome aberrations for PHA, CpG-ODN and CpG-ODN combined IL-2 groups was 2.5%, 50.8% and 50.8%, respectively.2. Of the 92 CLL patients, the aberration rate detected by FISH and a panel of 6 probes was 60.9%. The most common abnormality was deletion of 13q14 (33.7%), then trisomy 12 (18.5%), the rate of deletions of 6q22, 11q23 (ATM), 17p13 (TP53) and IgH rearrangements was 8.7%, 8.7%, 3.2% and 7.6%, respectively.ConclusionCytogenetic abnormality is common in CLL. CpG-ODN can effectively raise the detection rate of chromosome aberrations in CLL patients. FISH can sensitively detect the common abnormalities of certain specific sites. CC and FISH can complement each other and the combination of the two may have a comprehensive and sensitive understanging of cytogenetic features of CLL.