Premature chromosome condensation in human leukemia
DM Williams, CD Scott and TM Beck
Premature chromosome condensation (PCC) has previously been observed in
tissue culture and is believed to arise from asynchronous mitotic activity
in multinucleated cells in which the affected nucleus is in interphase and
at least one nucleus is in metaphase. Such cells have been noted following
fusion induced by virus infection, spontaneously, and after treatment with
cytochalasin B. The phenomenon has also been observed in malignant pleural
effusions, but has not previously been described as a feature of
hematologic disease. In this study, we report the observations of PCC in
seven patients. Six of these patients had either acute myeloblastic
leukemia or acute myelomonoblastic leukemia in association with the
features of erythroleukemia, i.e., leukoerythroblastic reaction in the
blood, and erythroid multinuclearity, "megaloblastoid" changes, and
PAS-positive staining of erythroid precursor cells in the bone marrow. In
all patients, erythroid multinuclearity has been noted. However, not all
patients with erythroleukemia exhibit PCC. In this series, three additional
patients have had similar bone marrow morphologic changes without PCC. The
finding of PCC in erythroleukemia may have important implications as to
etiology of this disorder.
Volume 47,
Issue 4,
pp. 687-693,
04/01/1976
Copyright © 1976 by The American Society of Hematology
