Double minute chromosomes in acute myeloblastic leukemia

Two patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) with double minute chromosomes (dmins) are described. One patient had dmins in approximately one-third of bone marrow cells examined at diagnosis; no other karyotypic changes were observed. The dmins disappeared when the patient achieved a complete remission. The second patient developed acute leukemia as a second cancer, having previously received radiotherapy and chemotherapy for a breast carcinoma. At the time of diagnosis of AML, the patient exhibited dmins in 12% of bone marrow cells; other complex karyotypic changes were observed. Data on the clinical and cytogenetic features of these cases are compared with those of other reported cases of acute leukemia with dmins. The possible biologic and clinical significance of dmins in acute leukemia is discussed.