Cytogenetic and Molecular Genetic Prognostic Factors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemias

Abstract

This review presents characteristic and reproducible chromosome rearrangements in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which can be detected with a standard cytogenetic research (G-bands staining) or by FISH. More subtle genetic changes, inaccessible to the observation of cytogeneticists, are detected with the help of modern methods of molecular biological diagnosis. The prognostic value of cytogenetic and molecular genetic markers of ALL is shown in this article. A minimal set of clinically relevant molecular markers is presented, which it is advisable to investigate with ALL.