OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic value of monosomal karyotype (MK) patients in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSWe retrospectively studied 45 patients of MK⁺ in newly-diagnosed adult AML in our center from Oct 2000 to Dec 2012. Clinical characteristics, cytogenetic data and prognostic features were analyzed in the cohort of MK⁺ patients.

RESULTSMK was found in 45 patients (19.0%) of 237 newly-diagnosed adult AML with cytogenetic data available at diagnoses. Among these 45 cases, there were 28 male (62.2%) and 17 female (37.8%). Median age of MK⁺ patients at diagnose was 58(18-91) years old. The presence of -5(31.1%) and -7(17.8%) were the most common chromatid among MK⁺ AML patients. MK was much more prevalent among elderly patients. Among AML patients, the proportions of MK⁺ patients younger than 30, 30 to 59 and older than 60 years old groups were 11.5%, 17.7% and 22.4%, respectively. There was no difference between MK⁺ and MK⁻ patients in gender distribution (P=0.545). There was also no difference between MK⁺ and MK⁻ patients in the distribution of FAB castigation (P=0.239). Median survival of MK⁺ AML patients was 6.5 months. Cumulative 5-year overall survival (OS) of was 5.2%. Forty-three MK⁺ patients (43/45, 95.6%) also had a complex karyotype (CK). Two cases that did not meet the CK had not achieved complete remission (CR), and died within 6 months. There were 12 patients who were CK⁺ in 192 MK⁻ patients. The differences of OS and CR rates between MK⁺CK⁺ patients and MK⁻CK⁺ were statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe increased detection rate of MK with age was associated with lower CR and OS in AML patients.