Chromosome Studies on Normal and Leukemic Human Leukocytes

TLDR

Chromosome analyses were performed on myeloblasts from four leukemia patients and leukocytes from three healthy controls after 2–4 days of in‑vitro culture. Both normal and leukemic cells had a diploid chromosome number of 46, but idiogram analysis detected a Y‑chromosome abnormality in two chronic granulocytic leukemia cases while none were seen in two acute leukemia cases, indicating that small chromosomal changes can be observed in some leukemic leukocytes.

Abstract

Chromosome studies were made on myeloblasts obtained from the peripheral blood of 4 patients (3 males, 1 female) with acute or chronic granulocytic leukemia and on leukocytes from 3 healthy individuals (1 male, 2 females). The cells were grown in culture for 2 to 4 days before examination. Both in normal and in leukemic cells, the predominant metaphase chromosome number was 46. However, idiogram analyses revealed a definite abnormality, probably involving the Y chromosome, in the 2 cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia. No chromosome abnormality was distinguishable in the 2 cases of acute leukemia (1 male, 1 female) investigated. The results indicate that in some leukemic human leukocytes small but definite chromosomal changes are demonstrable.