Cytogenetic analysis in the diagnosis of acute leukemia

Acute leukemias are characterized by acquired genetic rearrangements that, in most cases, can be detected by cytogenetic methods as clonal chromosomal abnormalities. Whereas primary abnormalities contribute to the establishment of the leukemia and often are seen as solitary changes, secondary aberrations accrue during clonal evolution. Both abnormalities are nonrandom in distribution. The pattern differs between acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and from subtype to subtype. Some abnormalities are so characteristic as to be virtually pathognomonic for particular types of leukemia. The importance of cytogenetic characterization of leukemias is thus two-fold. First, the recurrent aberrations provide insight into the pathogenetic mechanisms that are operative. They pinpoint areas of the human genome that carry genes or regulatory sequences whose function is disrupted in neoplastic cells. Second, even before the long-term goal of a more fundamental understanding of the neoplastic process is reached, the cytogenetic aberrations have direct clinical importance. The finding of an acquired clonal chromosomal abnormality in hematopoietic cells identifies the presence of a neoplastic disease. The aberration profile may reveal whether the patient has ALL or ANLL and which subtype it is. Remission and relapse can be monitored by cytogenetic analyses. Finally, the karyotypic pattern is an independent prognostic parameter that should be considered when the choice of therapy is made.