Comparable complex rearrangements involving 8;21 and 9;22 translocations in leukaemia

Abstract

FOR many years chromosomal abnormalities in tumours seemed to be so variable that it seemed most reasonable to view them as epiphenomena. But banding techniques have revealed non-random chromosomal abnormalities in several human and mammalian malignancies. The observation of relatively consistent translocations in several types of leu kaemia and lymphoma lends credence to Boveri's hypothesis¹ that chromosomal alterations are among the fundamental changes that result in malignancy. For example, the Philadelphia (Ph¹) translocation² is observed in 85–90% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML), and the 8;21 translocation is observed in 10–15% of patients with acute myelocytic leukaemia (AML)^3,4. We report here that, when more complex structural changes occur, com parable patterns of rearrangements are found for both the 9;22 and the 8;21 translocations. This provides further sup port for Boveri's hypothesis.