Chromosome Abnormality in Leukemia

Abstract

Abstract All the previous cytogenetic papers reproduced here have been concerned with constitutional abnormalities due to meiotic events. Although the involvement of chromosomes in cancer had been postulated since the time of Boveri and abnormal chromosome morphology had been recognized in cancer cells, it had largely been regarded as secondary and nonspecific. Thus the demonstration that patients with a particular type of leukemia had a specific chromosome defect in their blood and bone marrow had important implications for the genetic basis of malignancy, as well as providing the basis for a valuable clinical diagnostic and prognostic test. The original observation of an unusual minute chromosome in chronic myeloid leukemia made in 1960 in the very brief report by Nowell and Hungerford given here is notable also for its use of the newly developed techniques of studying chromosomes in peripheral blood; without banding techniques it was impossible to determine the specific chromosome involved.