Cytogenetic profile of adult AML patients in Turkey: a single center study with comprehensive comparison with literature

Background: Cytogenetic findings are important prognostic factors in acute myeloid leukemia. Large systematic data about chromosomal characteristics of Turkish AML patients have not been reported to date. Objectives: The karyotypic profiles of 157 adult AML patients were evaluated retrospectively and compared with other reports from different populations. Methods: Cytogenetics analyses were performed on bone marrow samples using G-banding. Patients were categorized according to their cytogenetic results into four groups with the addition of a normal karyotyped group to the favorable, intermediate and adverse groups of European Leukemia Network. Results: Cytogenetic analyses were carried out successfully in 138 patients (88%). Abnormal karyotypes were found in 79 (57.2%) patients of which 13 (9.4%) were in favorable, 37 (26.8%) in intermediate and 29 (21%) in adverse groups. t(8;21) (5%) was the most common favorable abnormality while monosomal karyotypes (15.9%) in adverse group. Conclusion: This single center study is the most comprehensive study about the cytogenetic profile of acute myeloid leukemia in Turkey with comparison of other population-based studies. While there were similarities and differences with different publications, our results did not show a marked tendency to the findings of any specific geographic region. Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; cytogenetics; chromosomal abnormalities; adult.