Cytogenetic studies in 30 patients with Burkitt's lymphoma or L3 acute lymphoblastic leukemia with special reference to additional chromosome abnormalities.

We performed cytogenetic analysis in 23 consecutive patients with Burkitt's ALL and 7 patients with Burkitt's lymphoma. Only one patient had a normal karyotype. Twenty-seven patients had a (8;14) translocation and 2 a (2;8) translocation. No (8;22) translocation was seen. In 12 patients (41%), the t(8;14) was the only chromosome rearrangement whereas in the 18 remaining cases (59%), the t(8;14) or t(2;8) was associated with other numerical or structural abnormalities. Chromosomes 1, 7 and 6 were rearranged in 10, 8, and 5 patients, respectively, usually in translocations, duplications, deletions (chromosome 6), or isochromosome of the long arm (chromosomes 1 or 7). The incidence of these additional rearrangements is discussed with regard to previously published reports and the chromosome localization of oncogenes.