The molecular biology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (review).

The emergence of molecular and cytogenetic correlates has opened exciting avenues to a better understanding of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and in turn has sharpened the clinician's ability for classification and treatment. While the pathophysiology and etiology of ALL remains vague, the clinical significance of the chromosomal abnormalities in the pathogenesis of malignant transformation is becoming clearer. This review highlights recent achievements in the genetic research of ALL and discusses the epidemiology, clinical features, and therapeutic determinants of this hematopoietic malignancy. Special attention is given to individual chromosomal abnormalities established by a number of international conferences on chromosomes of adult and childhood ALL. Specifically, model number of chromosomes and structural alterations including t(8;14), t(9;22), t(4;11), 14q+, 6q-, t(11;14) and others are considered in detail. The molecular basis of ALL and the pathogenetic role for genes located near chromosomal breakpoints are discussed in detail.