A new three-way variant t(15;22;17)(q22;q11.2;q21) in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by the t(15;17)(q22;q21), which results in the fusion of the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene at 15q22 with the retinoic acid alpha-receptor (RARA) at 17q21. We report the case of a 44-year-old man with APL carrying a new complex variant translocation (15;22;17). Karyotypic analysis with G-banding of bone marrow cells revealed t(15;22;17) (q22;q11.2;q21). Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a PML/RARA dual-color DNA probe showed the fusion signals. RT-PCR analysis showed long-form PML/RARA fusion transcripts. A complete remission was attained with a course of conventional chemotherapy with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). This is the first report of a new three-way translocation of 22q11 involvement with APL.