Three-way Philadelphia translocation t(9;10;22)(q34;p11.2;q11.2) as a secondary abnormality in an imatinib mesylate-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia patient

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterized by the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome created by the reciprocal translocation t(9:22)(q34;q11), resulting in the chimeric gene breakpoint cluster region (BCR)-Abelson (ABL). Variant Ph chromosome translocations involving chromosomes other than 9 and 22 occur in 5–10% of CML cases. In the present study, a novel case of a Ph chromosome-positive CML in the chronic phase (CP) is reported, with a three-way Ph translocation involving three chromosomal regions, 9q34, 10p11.2 and 22q11.2, in addition to the loss of the Y chromosome, where the latter was a secondary abnormality. Since the majority of CML cases are currently treated with imatinib, variant rearrangements generally have no specific prognostic significance, although the mechanisms involved in resistance to therapy have yet to be investigated. The underlying mechanisms and prognostic implications of these cytogenetic abnormalities are discussed in the present study.