Background Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (S-AML) patients generally have a poor prognosis, but the chromosomal aberrations of S-AML have been rarely reported. We aimed to explore the chromosomal aberrations and clinical significance in patients with S-AML. Patients and methods The clinical characteristics and karyotypes of 26 patients with S-AML were retrospectively analyzed. The overall survival (OS) was measured from the time of the patients’ transition to AML (i.e., at S-AML diagnosis). Results The study included 26 S-AML patients (13 males and 13 females), with a median age of 63 years (range, 20–77 years). They transformed from various hematologic malignancies or solid tumors; most of them were secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). About 62% of the S-AML patients showed chromosomal aberrations. The serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in S-AML patients with abnormal karyotype was higher than those with normal karyotype. Apart from the differences in treatment regimens, S-AML patients with chromosomal aberrations had shorter OS (P < 0.05). Conclusion S-AML patients with abnormal karyotype have higher LDH levels and shorter OS than normal karyotype patients, and the OS of hypodiploidy was much shorter than hyperdiploid.

BackgroundSecondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia (S-AML) patients generally have a poor prognosis, and the chromosomal karyotype of S-AML have been rarely reported in the published literature. We aimed to explore the chromosomal karyotype and its clinical significance in patients with S-AML.MethodsClinical characteristics and chromosome karyotypes of 26 patients with S-AML were retrospectively analyzed. The overall survival (OS) was measured from the time of the patients’ transition to AML (which means the time of S-AML diagnosis) .ResultsAmong the 26 S-AML patients, there were 13 males and 13 females, with a median age of 63 years old (range, 20-77 years old). All of them were secondary to a variety of hematologic malignancies or solid tumors, and most of them were secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). About 62% of the S-AML patients showed chromosome abnormalities. The level of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in S-AML patients with abnormal chromosome karyotype was higher than those with normal chromosome karyotype. Apart from the differences in treatment regimens, S-AML patients with chromosomal karyotype abnormalities had shorter OS (P<0.05). ConclusionsS-AML patients with abnormal chromosomal karyotype have higher LDH and shorter OS than normal chromosomal karyotype, and the OS of hypodiploidy was much shorter than hyperdiploid.