Novel complex t(V;9;22) rearrangements in three cases with chronic myeloid leukemia and a rare translocation in a case with classical Philadelphia chromosome.

The fusion gene BCR/ABL arises in connection with a complex translocation event in 2-10% of cases with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Due to causative treatment with Imatinib most cases with variant rearrangements show no specific prognostic significance, though the events of therapy resistance remain to be studied. Herein we report on three CML cases with complex chromosomal aberrations not observed before, involving chromosomal regions such as 1p32, 2q11 and 6q12. Additionally we report on one case with the rare translocation t(3;8)(p22;q22) along with the classic Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. In two cases, two different breakpoints on chromosome 22 were found. Moreover, in one of them two breakpoints on chromosome 9 were observed. The following chromosomal studies, during therapy by Imatinib, have revealed different cytogenetic responses.