Polyploidy in human malignancy. Hypopentaploid chromosome pattern in malignant reticulosis with secondary sideroachrestic anemia

A 73-year-old man developed malignant reticulosis with secondary sideroachrestic anemia. On eight occasions chromosome analyses were performed which included 208 peripheral blood cells and 403 bone marrow cells. Chromosome number ranged from 40-625. In marrow a hypopentaploid stemline predominated with a mode at 104-106. Supernumerary chromosomes were found in groups C, D, E, F and G, including two markers. Minor diploid, tetraploid and polyploid cell lines were also present. Peripheral blood cells were, with some exceptions, exactly diploid and only 1.5% were near-tetraploid. During progression of the disease more and more hypertetraploid, hypopentaploid and polyploid reticulum cells emerged in the bone marrow, suggesting clonal evolution.