Chromosomes and causation of human cancer and leukemia: XXVIII. Value of detailed chromosome studies on large numbers of cells in CML

Abstract

Comparison of the chromosome findings obtained on routine examination (10‐50 cells) of the marrows from patients with Ph¹ ‐positive CML with those based on a large number (110‐500 cells) of metaphases in six of these patients, in whom appropriate material was available, revealed the presence of small percentages of aneuploid cells in the marrow during the chronic phase of the disease and not seen with the routine procedure. These aneuploid cells may ultimately constitute the dominant clone during the blastic phase of the chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). Furthermore, karyotypically abnormal cells, in addition those observed on routine study, were detected in the blastic phase when a large number of cells was examined. The value and implications of these observations are discussed.