Abstract: 

Acute leukaemias, including acute lymphoblastic (ALL) and acute myeloid (AML) leukaemias, are haematologic malignancies marked by the rapid growth of immature blood cells. A key advance in understanding these cancers has been the identification of chromosomal abnormalities, which drive leukemogenesis and serve as vital diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic markers. Different chromosomal changes and markers define the subtypes of AML and ALL. Techniques such as FISH and karyotyping enable the detection of these abnormalities, aiding accurate diagnosis, risk stratification, and personalised therapy. This talk will explore the chromosomal landscape of acute leukaemias and highlight its role in diagnosis and prognosis.

About the speaker: 

Dr. Dhanlaxmi Shetty, PhD, PGDHHM, PGDMLS, is a distinguished expert in Cancer Cytogenetics and Human Genetics, serving as Scientific Officer F and Officer-In-Charge of Cancer Cytogenetics at ACTREC-Tata Memorial Centre, and as Assistant Professor at HBNI. A Certified Associate Genetic Counselor (BGC, India) and Registered Clinical Laboratory Geneticist (EBMG), she brings extensive experience from institutions like SRL Diagnostics, Metropolis Healthcare, and I-genetic Diagnostics. With over 70 publications in national and international journals, her expertise spans Cancer Cytogenetics, Pre-/Post-natal Cytogenetics, and Human Genetics. An educator and mentor, she leads advanced training and EQA programs in Cytogenetics and was awarded the prestigious ICMR-DHR International Fellowship (2022–2023).