 The aim of this study was to investigate whether, in relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the frequent genetic feature of TEL-AML1 fusion resulting from the cryptic chromosomal translocation t(12;21)(p13;q22) is an independent risk factor.     ///    "The probabilities with SE of event-free survival and survival at 5 years for matched TEL-AML1 positives and negatives are 0.63 +/- 0.10 versus 0.38 +/- 0.10 (P =.09) and 0.82 +/- 0.09 versus 0.42 +/- 0.19 (P =.10), respectively. "    ///    "A total of 249 patients were eligible for this study: 53 (21%) were positive for TEL-AML1, and 196 (79%) were negative. "    ///    TEL-AML1 expression does not constitute an independent risk factor in relapsed childhood BCP-ALL after matching for relevant prognostic parameters.     ///    "These results were confirmed by multivariate analysis, revealing an independent prognostic significance of time point and site of relapse (both P <.001) but not of TEL-AML1 expression (P =.09). "