Cytogenetic Studies in Preleukaemia Using the G‐Banding Staining Technique

Abstract

Fifteen patients with preleukemia were cytogenetically studied during the preleukemic state by using the G-banding technique. Nine patients had a completely normal karyotype, while the other 6 showed various chromosomal abnormalities, numerical (trisomes in 5 cases) and structural (deletion in 1 case and a marker chromosome in 1 case). The abnormalities concerned group C in all 6 cases, while group A was involved in 3 cases. G-banding revealed that trisomy C affected chromosome no. 8 (2 cases) and 9 (3 cases). A deleted chromosome 11 (11q-) was identified in 1 case and a marker chromosome in 1, the origin of which was established as a translocation between chromosomes 3 and 6. The abnormalities of group A concerned chromosome no. 3. The abnormalities found in these cases, using the G-banding technique, were similar to those described in acute leukemia.