Philadelphia-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Characterization in a pediatric cohort in a referral center in Colombia.

Background: Philadelphia-like (Ph-like) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a subtype of pediatric leukemia with high risk factors and poor outcome. There are few reports of its prevalence in Latin America.

Aim: This study evaluated the frequency and clinical and biological characteristics of Ph-like ALL in a pediatric cancer center in Colombia.

[Correlation of the t(9;22), t(12;21), and DNA hyperdiploid content with immunophenotype and proliferative rate of leukemic B-cells of pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Introduction: Between 60 and 80% of patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia show genetic abnormalities which influence the prognosis of the disease and the biology of the tumor.

Objective: To analyze different genetic abnormalities in acute B lymphoblastic leukemia in children, its relationship with the immunophenotype and the proliferative rate compared with normal B cell precursors.

Materials And Methods: We assessed immunophenotype, DNA content and proliferative rate in 44 samples by flow cytometry, and translocations t(9;22), t(12;21), t(4;11), and t(1;19) by RT-PCR.