Cytogenetic studies of chronic myelocytic leukemia in children and adolescents.

In a 3 1/2 year cytogenetic study of 107 leukemia patients diagnosed in childhood and adloescence, 8 presented with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Seven of the 8 had chromosomal abnormalities. Six had the Ph1 chromosome; 5 had the usual 9;22 translocation. Two patients had involvement with chromosome 15; one had a 9;15 translocation in Ph1 positive cells during remission while a second had a 1;15 translocation during blastic crisis. The 2 patients who did not have a Ph1 chromosome survived 13 and 30 months, respectively, considerably less time than the 4+ year survival in most of those with Ph1 positive CML.