Rosenbaum MW et al. – In this study, clinical significance of ring chromosome (RC) in myeloid neoplasms was investigated. Results indicated that RCs were sometimes lost after therapy or appeared during disease relapse, and thus may be associated with genetic instability and neoplasms.

Methods

• Myeloid neoplasms (96 cases) with RC were identified from 3 academic hospitals.
• A comparison between myeloid neoplasms lacking RC was performed after reviewing clinicopathologic features and leukemia–free survival and overall survival (OS).

Results

• With RC identified on routine karyotyping, 59 acute myeloid leukemias (AML–RC) and 37 myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS–RC) were identified.
• Complex karyotypes were present in 75% of AML–RC and 97% of MDS–RC.
• The median OS was significantly shorter in AML–RC with complex karyotype.
• However, median OS was similar to AML patients with complex karyotype–lacking RC.
• MDS–RC patients had shorter leukemia–free survival and a trend for shorter overall survival.
• Outcomes were similar to AML–RC with complex karyotype and complex karyotype AML lacking RC, but shorter survival than AML–RC with a non–complex karyotype.