ABSTRACT
Thirty children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] of both sexes [18 males and 12 females] with ages ranged from 2 to 15 years old and 10 healthy children matched with age and sex were included in this work to evaluate chromosomal abnormalities as well as to evaluate its relationship to the response to induction therapy. All cases were subjected to full history, complete examination and full laboratory investigations. Blood samples were collected from all cases for chromosomal study. Induction therapy was started with vincristine, prednisone, adriamycin and intrathecal methotrexate for four-six weeks. Assessment of the patients for induction of remission was carried through complete clinical examination and full laboratory investigations. The results showed that 22 cases of ALL revealed chromosomal abnormalities. Most of these chromosomal abnormalities were numerical aberrations in the form of polyploidy 14/11. The main structural aberrations were duplications, deletions and translocations. The response to induction therapy showed complete response for 22 cases [8 with normal chromosomal pattern and l4 with polyploidy]. Failure to achieve complete response was observed in six cases were with structural aberrations. Two cases died during therapy