Tetraploid acute promyelocytic leukemia with double translocation t (15,17) PML/RARA: the first case report in Croatia and Europe.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by the translocation t (15;17)(q22;q21) cytogenetic abnormality in the majority of cases. In most of the cases the cells of APL have normal, diploid karyotype. There are very few cases presented with very rare tetraploid karyotype with double translocation t(15;17)(q22;q12).

Human Xp/Yp telomere analysis by Southern-STELA.

Telomeres are specialized structures designed to protect the ends of linear chromosomes. They are dynamic structures such that in normal somatic cells they constantly shorten as cell division progresses. There is compelling evidence that telomere shortening leads to cell senescence, a process perceived as the main cause of aging in higher mammals.