Lack of TEL/AML1 fusion in pediatric AML: further evidence for lineage specificity of TEL/AML1.
BACKGROUND
The TEL/AML1 fusion associated with t(12;21)(p13;q22) is the most common gene rearrangement in childhood malignancy, occurring in approximately 25% of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The TEL/AML1 rearrangement is cryptic at the cytogenetic level but confers a favorable prognosis. The AML1 gene was first identified by virtue of its involvement in adult and pediatric acute myeloid malignancies associated with t(8;21) and t(3;21)(q26;q22.1). We have therefore determined the frequency of the TEL/AML1 fusion in pediatric myeloid leukemias by RT-PCR analysis.


METHODS
Total RNA was isolated from cryopreserved bone marrow samples of 38 pediatric patients with AML. RNA quality was controlled for by amplification of the TEL gene. An RT-PCR assay was then used to test for the presence of the TEL/AML1 fusion.


RESULTS
29 patients had adequate RNA for analysis. Zero out of 29 pediatric AML patients had evidence for the TEL/AML1 fusion by RT-PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
The TEL/AML1 fusion does not occur in children with AML and suggests that the TEL/AML1 rearrangement is restricted in pediatric hematologic malignancy to B lineage ALL.
Loh
M L
ML
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
McLean
T W
TW
Buckley
J D
JD
Howells
W
W
Gilliland
D G
DG
Smith
F O
FO
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002881:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12; D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D000097764:ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein
D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D012313:RNA; C102421:TEL-AML1 fusion protein; D000097764:ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein