Multiple clones with (3;21) translocation in a case of Ph-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia during relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Abstract

Secondary chromosome changes are frequently observed during the blastic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) owing to clonal evolution. Both numerical and structural abnormalities are reported in most of these cases. Recently a new translocation, t(3;21)(q26;q22), was reported in Philadelphia (Ph)-positive CML during the chronic as well as accelerated phase. We report a patient with Ph-positive CML who developed three abnormal clones, all of which had t(3;21) at the time of relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation during the accelerated phase.