Background: Hematologic neoplasms are associated with mutations in hematopoietic cells and chromosomal abnormalities. During aging, about 2-3% of the elderly have chromosomal abnormalities arising from clonal mosaicism, the immune system is impaired and the bone marrow loses its ability to replace blood cells.
Objective: To describe the epidemiological and cytogenetic profile of hematological malignancies, highlighting the frequency of chromosomal alterations in these neoplasms associated with aging.
Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study with analysis of karyotype exams results was performed in the Cytogenetic Laboratory of thee Blood Center of the Faculdade de Medicina de Marilia (FAMEMA) between 1998 and 2016. Blood samples from child and adult patients with different hematological malignancies treated in the Onco-hematology Outpatient Clinics of the local blood center and hospitals, and external clinics were tested.
Results: Karyotype exam results of 746 patients with a mean age of 54.7 years (±23.1) were analyzed. The elderly had the highest frequency of hematological malignancies (50.9%), followed by adults (38.3%) and young people (10.7%); elderly women had the highest percentage (55.0%). Normal karyotypes (46,XX/46,XY) were more common (61.8%) compared to abnormal karyotypes, especially among the elderly (56.4%). Myeloproliferative neoplasms were an exception with 67.4% of abnormal karyotypes.
Conclusion: There is a higher frequency of hematological malignancies among the elderly. It is possible to conclude that failures in genomic mechanisms and hematopoiesis with aging lead to the formation of cells with the chromosomal alterations found in hematological malignancies.
Keywords: Aging; Chromosomal aberrations; Epidemiology; Hematologic neoplasms.