CYTOGENETIC REMISSION INDUCED BY INTERFERON-ALPHA IN A MYELOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDER WITH TRISOMY-8

We report a case of an unusual myeloproliferative disorder with trisom y of chromosome 8 characterized by peripheral blood thrombocythaemia a nd pronounced bone marrow myelodysplastic features, Treatment with int erferon-alpha at intermediate dosages, together with a complete bone m arrow and peripheral blood haematology remission, was able to induce a cytogenetic remission, shown by the complete disappearance at the con ventional cytogenetic analysis of trisomy 8 abnormality characterizing the neoplastic clone at diagnosis. However, trysomy 8 was still detec table by FISH in a small proportion of cells, showing that profound su ppression of, but not complete eradication of, the neoplastic clone ha d occurred, The ability of interferon-a to induce a major cytogenetic remission in a +8, Philadelphia-chromosome negative. myeloproliferativ e disorder has not previously been documented and may provide further indications for the use of this drug in these disorders.