Prognostic Meaning of Chromosome Aberrations in Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia Patients of the BFM Study Group

Consistent numerical and structural aberrations of chromosomes are well known as an important additional diagnostic factor in all kinds of leukemia. The prognostic meaning of these abnormalities, however, is still being discussed. To show the influence of chromosomal aberrations on the course of the disease, all cytogenetically investigated patients have to be treated in the same way, for therapy is one of the most important factors of prognosis. The following cytogenetical data were obtained from the analysis of bone marrow blast cells of children treated according to protocols ALL-83 and AML-83 of the BFM study group.