Chromosome-Positive Leukemia

The close association of specific chromosome abnormalities with particular types of human cancer has been established by a number of investigators during the past decade [1-6]. A few of the genes involved in consistent chromosome rearrangements, notably translocations, have already been identified, and it is likely that the identity of most of the genes affected by these aberrations will be determined within the next decade. Moreover, for several of the rearrangements, some of the changes in gene structure and function have been defined. Therefore, some general principles that may be applicable to many chromosome rearrangements in human malignant disease are beginning to emerge. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) provides one of the clearest examples of our progress in first identifying a recurring chromosome abnormality and then cloning the genes involved in the abnormality. The analysis of these genes and their alteration as a result of the chromosome change is the subject of this lecture.