Prognostic Effect of Complex Karyotype, Monosomal Karyotype, and Chromosome 17 Abnormalities in B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND:The effect of monosomal karyotype (MK), complex karyotype (CK), and chromosome 17 abnormalities (abnl 17) on prognosis in B-cell acute lymphoid leukemia (B-ALL) has not yet been established. PATIENTS AND METHODS:We conducted a retrospective analysis of prognostic factors on 237 adult patients with B-ALL treated at our institution. RESULTS:Older age (older than 60 years), higher white blood cell count (> 30), and abnl 17 were associated with shorter overall survival in univariate analysis, but multivariable analysis only identified older age as an independent poor prognostic actor. There was a significant correlation between abnl 17 and older age. CONCLUSION:In contrast to the patients with acute myeloid leukemia, our results show that MK and CK do not play a predictive role in patients with B-ALL, but further study is required to determine whether specific changes on chromosome 17 might have prognostic value when investigated separately.