Frequency and pattern of chromosomal abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia from Western India: A retrospective study

Abstract

Chromosomal abnormalities play an important role in diagnosis and prognosis of hematological diseases. The aim of the present study was to study the pattern and frequency of chromosomal aberrations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subgroups from western India. A retrospective study was conducted through evaluating laboratory proforma which were filled during 2005 to 2014 for diagnosis and treatment of AML subjects. We have studied chromosomal aberrations in 282 subjects with AML from western India. AML patients were sub-grouped according to FAB classification. Cytogenetic study using conventional cytogenetics (GTG-banding) and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was carried out using FISH probes (AML1/ETO, PML/RARA, CBFB). Student's t test for continuous variables and Pearson's Chi-squared test for categorical variables were used to identify the relationship between variables. Cytomorphological study revealed AML- M3 as most frequent (32.3%) group followed by AML-M2 (25.2%) and AML-M4 (19.9%). Chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 145 (51.42%) of the total AML cases. A high frequency (38.6%) of chromosomal abnormalities was identified in AML-M3 subgroup as compared to AML-M2 (31%) and AML-M4 (20.6%). Cytogenetic study is important for the diagnosis and management of the AML patients. Our study identified chromosomal abnormalities in AML subgroups with varied frequencies. It is important in diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. As younger AML patients were more affected in our study, etiological factors such as environmental factors need to be studied. Combination of conventional cytogenetics and FISH has an advantage of identifying high frequency of chromosomal aberrations in AML patients.