Cytogenetics of acute leukemia

Abstract

Cytogenetic abnormalities are an important factor in patient diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment in acute leukemia. Characteristic genetic abnormalities are recognized as essential for disease classification and are a significant element of the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification (World health organization classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, IARC Press, Lyon, 2008). Some aberrations are involved in the initiation whereas others participate in the progression of different acute leukemias.