Chromosomes and causation of human cancer and leukemia. LIII. Comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of an erythroleukemia.

A comprehensive cytogenetic analysis has been performed in a case of erythroleukemia (EL), M6 in the FAB classification. A bone marrow sample was shown to be characterized by an unusually high degree of polyploidy with the presence of a dominating hypotetraploid clone. G-banding analysis revealed extensive structural rearrangements involving chromosomes #1,#3,#12,#16,#17, and #21. The SCE frequency was higher in the cells of the dominant clone when compared to that of near-diploid, presumably nonmalignant cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the hypotetraploid cells progressed through the cell cycle much slower than did the near-diploid cells.