Klin Onkol 1999; 12(6): 191-195.
Summary: Eighty percent of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) show clonal chromosomal aberrations on cytogenetic examination. The most frequent aberrations recognized ln AML are: t(8;21) inM2, t(15;17) in M3, inv(16) in M4 and t 11q23 translocation in M4 or M5 subtypes of AML according to FAB classification. The above-mentioned aberrations comprise 40-45% of all AML cases in children. Recently, a molecular genetic examination of these specific genetic changes allowing detection of leukemic cell per 105-106 normal cells has been worked out. Using this approach, long-term monitoring of residual disease has become possible, although the mass of leukemic cells has dropped far bellow the detection level of morphologic and cytogenetic examination.
