Morgan R, Sandberg A A, Jarzabek V, Scheerer P, Hecht F
Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 1987 Apr;25(2):293-301. doi: 10.1016/0165-4608(87)90190-7.
Robertsonian translocations between the acrocentric autosomes are the most common type of constitutional chromosome rearrangement in humans. However, Robertsonian translocations are very rarely acquired in cancer cells. We report a patient with prolymphocytic leukemia and an acquired Robertsonian translocation in the leukemic cells. The translocation was between chromosomes #13 and #15; t(13;15)(q11;p12). Two other cases of malignancy with an acquired Robertsonian translocation have been found, one being of the t(13;15) type, which accounts for only 1% of constitutional Robertsonian translocations. We propose, therefore, that although Robertsonian translocations are occasionally observed in cancer cells, they are very rarely acquired.
