t(12;21)/TEL-AML1 fusion gene was examined in bone marrow or peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 51 newly diagnosed childhood ALL patients by conventional cytogenetic R-banding analysis (CCA), dual colour interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH), and nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).     ///    "21)/TEL-AML1 fusion gene was found in 11 cases by FISH or PCR, accounting for 21.6% and 26.9% in childhood ALLs and in non-T lineage ALL cases, respectively. "    ///    There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics and short term outcome between the t(12;21) and the TEL-AML1 negative cases. 