t(1;19) (q23;p13.3); TCF3- BX1(E2A-PBX1) PCR QUALITATIVE

CHROMOSOMAL REARRANGEMENTS CAN PRODUCE TUMORIGENIC FUSION GENES. THIS MECHANISM IS SEEN IN 15-25% OF LEUKEMIAS, LYMPHOMAS & SARCOMAS. FUSIONS CAN BE PRODUCED BY TRANSLOCATIONS, INVERSIONS OR DELETIONS. SPECIFIC GENE FUSIONS IN A PATIENTS TUMOR CELLS HAVE AN IMPORTANT BEARING ON THE MANAGEMENT & PROGNOSIS. DETECTION OF TRANSLOCATION T(1;19) IN ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL) MAY BE BALANCED OR UNBALANCED. BOTH ARE ASSOCIATED WITH POOR PROGNOSIS BUT MORE SO IF YOU HAVE AN UNBALANCED TRANSLOCATION. SUCH PATIENTS ARE USUALLY CHILDREN WITH T-ALL AND REQUIRE INTENSIVE CHEMOTHERAPY TO CONTROL THE DISEASE.