Cytogenetic studies in acute leukaemias. Prognostic implications of chromosome imbalances.

Consistent cytogenetic abnormalities have been detected in the bone marrow cells of 19 out of 33 patients (57.57%) with a recent diagnosis of acute leukaemia. Chromosome imbalances were apparently non-random, chromosomes 8, 17, 20 and 21 being more frequently involved. The median survival in the patients' group with abnormal metaphases was 55 vs. 210 days in patients with only normal metaphases. In the former group complete remission was obtained in 2 of 3 ALL patients and in 4 of 16 ANLL patients. Major karytypic abnormalities were consistently found in 5 subjects with EL. Peripheral blood culture lymphocytes showed a 9qh polymorphism in 2 of 35 patients and sporadic or consistent chromosome abnormalities in 6.