THE (8;21) TRANSLOCATION IDENTIFIES A SUBGROUP OF ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA (AML) WITH A RELATIVELY GOOD PROGNOSIS WHICH MAY REQUIRE A DIFFERENT TREATMENT. IT IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AML SUBTYPE M2. DETECTION OF T(8;21) HAS DIAGNOSTIC, PROGNOSTIC & THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PATIENT.

ABNORMALITIES OF CHROMOSOME 16 ARE FOUND IN 5-8% CASES OF ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA (AML). AML WITH INV(16)(P13.1;Q22) OR T(16;16)(P13.1;Q22) IS ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGH RATE OF COMPLETE REMISSION & FAVORABLE OVERALL SURVIVAL WHEN TREATED WITH HIGH DOSE CYTARABINE. HOWEVER ADDITIONAL CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES CAN ALSO BE SEEN IN AML ALONG WITH INV(16) AND THESE MAY INFLUENCE THE OVERALL SURVIVAL POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY. GAIN OF ADDITIONAL CHROMOSOME 22 IN AML WITH INV(16) IMPROVES OUTCOME WHEREAS KIT MUTATIONS INCREASE RISK OF RELAPSE.

DETECTION OF 11Q23/MLL REARRANGEMENT CONFERS A POOR PROGNOSIS IN INFANTS WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL). THESE INFANTS REQUIRE AN INNOVATIVE TREATMENT APPROACH. INFANTS WHO LACK THIS GENETIC ABNORMALITY HAVE AN INTERMEDIATE PROGNOSIS AND COULD BE TREATED ACCORDINGLY ON RISK DIRECTED PROTOCOLS. INFANT ALL SHOULD BE TREATED ON DIFFERENT CHEMOTHERAPY PROTOCOLS ACCORDING TO PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF MLL GENE REARRANGEMENT.