Double minutes and c-MYC amplification in acute myelogenous leukemia: Are they prognostic factors?

A rnp of actue myelogenous leukemia (AML) with double minutes (dmin) and X chromosome some loss is presented. Using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), a region of high-level DNA amplification was detected at 8q24, the l ocus of the c-MYC proto-oncogene. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a DNA probe specific for the human c-MYC gene confirmed the extrachro mosomal amplification of this proto-oncogene in the dmin of the leukemic ce lls. During the course of the disease, three relapses occurred; two complet e remissions could be achieved by treatment with various chemotherapy regim ens. The patient's survival time of 25 months was considerably longer than in most reported cases of AML with extrachromosomal c-MYC amplification. Th erefore, the present case challenges the view that the occurrence of dmin i n AML is generally an indication of poor prognosis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce Inc. All rights reserved.