TRISOMY-4 IN STEM CELL-LIKE LEUKEMIC-CELLS OF A PATIENT WITH AML

CD34 positive progenitor cells were analyzed in the bone marrow aspira te from a patient with newly diagnosed AML FAB M4. The patient had tri somy 4 as sole cytogenetic abnormality and a dominant population of CD 34 negative leukemic blasts. Karyotyping of the FAGS isolated, minor s ubpopulation of CD34(+)/CD38(-), 'stem cell'-like cells (incidence 0.2 9%) revealed trisomy 4 in 11/13 metaphases. No metaphases were obtaine d in the CD34 negative subpopulation. The experiments point to the exi stence of leukemic stem cells in the CD34(+)/CD38(-) compartment in AM L patients with trisomy 4.