Deletion 15q as the sole abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Deletions within the long arm of chromosome 15, a recurrent abnormality in myeloid malignancies, have been reported previously as a sole abnormality in only eight cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We describe three new cases of AML with this abnormality, all adult women (age, 41-66 years). Two cases were acute myelomonocytic leukemia (FAB AML-M4), and one was acute myeloblastic leukemia with maturation (FAB AML-M2). The deletion was identified at initial diagnosis in one patient and at relapse in the other two. Although all received aggressive therapy, their survival was short. Taken together with the eight previously reported cases, we conclude that deletions in chromosome 15 are associated with AML, both in cases that arise de novo or in the setting of a myeloproliferative disorder or myelodysplastic syndrome. These cases often show features of myelomonocytic or monocytic differentiation. The prognosis is poor, with survival similar to other AML cases with unfavorable cytogenetic changes.