[Evaluation of cell cycle in acute leukemias and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in children]

The DNA profile of blast cells was assayed in 61 children with acute leukemias (51 patients) and non-Hodgkins lymphomas (NHL--10 patients). The value of S phase (synthesis of DNA) and G2M phase (mitotic stage) was compared between the subtypes of acute leukemia and lymphoma based on blast cell phenotype. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) the lowest S phase of blast cells was seen in null-ALL subtype, the highest in T-ALL. In non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) the value of S phase was below S phase observed in ALL. B cell NHL showed higher S phase as compared to T-lymphocyte derived NHL cells. Aneuploidy was noted as hyperdiploidy (8 cases), hypodiploidy (4 cases) and two leukemia cell lines (3 ALL patients). The DNA profile as marker of proliferative activity of blastic cells provides an important information associated with the prognosis of patient.