Molecular Diagnosis of the Philadelphia Chromosome in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

The Philadelphia (Ph¹) chromosome was the first specific chromosomal abnormality to be consistently associated with a particular neoplasm, in this case chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML,)¹. Formed by a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22², the 22q-, or Ph¹ chromosome is found in the malignant cells of more than 90% of patients with CML³. The presence of the molecular equivalent of a Ph¹ chromosome is such a consistent finding in CML that it IS now the basis of a diagnostic test in routine clinical use.

Key Words:

• Philadelpia chromosome
• molecular diagnosis
• leukemia
• ALL
• lymphoblastic