Complex translocations derived stepwise from standard t(15;17) in a patient with variant acute promyelocytic leukemia

We report the case of an elderly man with an acute promyelocytic leukemia variant carrying complex variant translocations. The Q-banded karyotype and spectral karyotyping method revealed a typical t(15;17), and two complex rearrangements caused by stepwise translocation derived from a typical t(15;17). Chromosomes 8 and 14 were related to these rearrangements. The patient received induction chemotherapy using all-trans retinoic acid and achieved complete remission. To our knowledge, a case with complex rearrangements, caused by apparent stepwise translocation, at diagnosis, has not been reported previously.