THE PHILADELPHIA-CHROMOSOME AS A SECONDARY CHANGE IN LEUKEMIA - 3 CASE-REPORTS AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Three cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with a Philadelphia chrom osome (Ph) as a secondary abnormality are reported. The Ph was late-ap pearing in one patient and appeared as an additional anomaly in the ot her two patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization studies of the fi rst patient identified the presence of a minor BCR/ABL rearrangement. The findings of these cases support the conclusion that the Ph plays a role not only in leukemogenesis, but also in disease progression. An overview of the literature dealing with similar cases is also presente d. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1998.