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Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Immunoglobulin Gene Sequence Analysis In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: From Patient Material To Sequence Interpretation
Published on: November 26, 2018
Molecular basis and clinical significance of genetic aberrations in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Farzaneh Ghazavi1, Tim Lammens2, Nadine Van Roy3
1Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium; Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract:
B-Cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) arises from recurrent genetic insults that block precursor B-cell differentiation and drive aberrant proliferation and cell survival. Risk-adapted intensive chemotherapy is effective in curing the majority of children with BCP-ALL (>85%), but some children, not considered "high risk" and treated accordingly, experience a hematologic relapse. Moreover, survival rates in adults are significantly lower (∼40%) than those in children. Recent developments in genomewide genetic analysis have provided a wide range of chromosomal and genomic abnormalities characterizing BCP-ALL, several of which are associated with patient outcome. These findings provide an opportunity to adapt risk stratification and treatment schedules and to identify new druggable targets. In this review, we discuss the established and novel genetic alterations in BCP-ALL, their molecular background, and their potential use in risk stratification and treatment of BCP-ALL.
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