Introduction

Chromosomal abnormalities are found in a considerable number of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Partial or whole deletions of the long arm of chromosome 7 (7q) are often detected [1]. Abnormality of chromosome 7q, especially as a part of complex chromosomal abnormalities, is clearly associated with poor prognosis [2]. Previous studies in myeloid malignancies have pinpointed the most commonly deleted segments in chromosome band 7q22 [3–6]. The importance of chromosomal rearrangement is more enhanced when it is detected as a sole aberration. We report a patient with MDS whose marrow cells carried only an inversion of 7q22 and q36.

Case presentation

A 74-year-old Japanese man presented with pancytopenia incidentally detected by routine medical check-up. His complete blood cell counts revealed white blood cells decreased to 2100/mm3, neutrophils 940/mm3, red blood cells 320×104/mm3, hemoglobin 11.1g/dL, hematocrit 33.1%, and platelets 12.6×104/mm3. His serum lactate dehydrogenase remained within the normal limit at 148IU/L. A bone marrow examination showed normal cellularity with nucleated cells of 9.4×104/mm3. The proportion of blasts was 4%. A morphological examination showed basophilic stippling of erythroblasts which was seen as dysplasia. No pseudo-Pelger anomaly or hypogranular neutrophils, megaloblastic change of erythroblasts, or micromegakaryocytes or giant platelets were detected. According to World Health Organization classification [7], the diagnosis was MDS-u. Using our previously established method [8], the karyotype of his marrow cells were analyzed [9]; 46,XY, inv(7)(q22q36) in all of 20 metaphases was shown (Figure 1). Additional chromosomal analysis of his blood lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin-A was 46, XY. This indicated that inv(7)(q22q36) seen in his bone marrow cells was not a constitutional aberration. Unfortunately, further molecular examination was not carried out. Although he was assigned a score of intermediate-2 using the International Prognostic Scoring System [2], he is now asymptomatic and cytopenia has progressed slowly for 4 years.

Figure 1
figure 1

Karyotype of marrow cells. a. 46,XY,inv(7)(q22q36) was seen in all of 20 examined metaphases. b. Enlarged chromosomes 7 are also shown.

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Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, inv(7)(q22q36) as a sole chromosomal aberration in a clinical sample of de novo malignancies has never been documented. Among 5345 clinical samples from various neoplasms reviewed by Mitelman, the identical karyotype was reported once from a case of secondary MDS [10]. Knuutila et al. described that radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma had been given before MDS in this case [11]. Todd et al. described an inversion involving 7q22 and q34 as a sole abnormality in cell line established from familial MDS [12]. Taken together, despite the extremely low frequency, this karyotype appears to play a certain role in MDS pathogenesis.

Chromosome band 7q22 is involved in as many as 80% of 7q deletions seen in MDS and acute leukemia [3]. Thus, it is suggested that a critical gene for MDS development might be located at 7q22. Recent observation that CUX1 (cut-like homeobox 1, encoding a transcription factor located at chromosome 7q22), is frequently deleted in myeloid neoplasms is noteworthy [6]. Inactivating mutation is reported to lead tumorigenesis in various types of malignancies [13]. Loss of CUX1 function in myeloid malignancies is additionally suggested to be associated with poor prognosis [14]. Although our patient showed no leukemic transformation or rapid progression of cytopenia and is uneventfully alive, indicating a favorable prognosis, this gene might be disrupted since the breakpoint of 7q inversion of our patient also involves chromosome band 7q22. Whether this gene is rearranged in inv(7)(q22q36) should be examined to evaluate pathogenic significance. Taken together, despite the extremely low frequency, this karyotype appears to play a certain role in MDS pathogenesis.

Conclusion

Inv(7)(q22q36) appears to play a crucial role in MDS in a small proportion of patients.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.