Distinct cytogenetic and clinicopathologic features in acute myeloid leukemia after occupational exposure to pesticides and organic solvents

Abstract

Taken together, these findings document that AML in patients professionally exposed to toxic substances may represent a distinct cytogenetic and clinicopathologic entity. The clinicobiologic characteristics in these exposed patients are similar to the features of AML arising in patients with prior chemotherapy for another tumor, thus suggesting that similar transformation pathways may underlie leukemogenesis induced by cytotoxic drugs and by environmental exposure to some pesticides or organic solvents.