OBJECTIVETo evaluate the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in Burkitt leukemia (BL).

METHODSConventional cytogenetics (CC) was carried out to detect the karyotypes. Meanwhile, three color interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect the t(8;14)(q24;q32) in 17 newly diagnosed BL.

RESULTSThe results showed that the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 41.2% (7/17) by CC technique, including one of each for simple t(8;14)(q24;q32), complex chromosomal abnormality containing t(8;14)(q24;q32), t(8;22)(q24;q11), the complex chromosomal abnormality of t(12;22)(?;?), t(2;13)(?;?) with + 12, and one with two marker chromosomes. FISH method detected eight cases of t(8;14)(q24;q32), including the two detected by CC technique. Five samples (5/8) showed 2A1G1O2F (two blue, one green, one orange and two yellow signals in interphase nuclei), while three samples (3/8) showed 2A1G1O1F(two blue, one green, one orange and one yellow signals in interphase nuclei).

CONCLUSIONTwo different breakpoints have been identified on the c-Myc locus on 8q24. Interphase FISH was more sensitive in detecting t(8;14)(q24;q32), and it is an important complement to CC. It should be used as a routine method for diagnosis of BL.