An investigation of the t(12;21) rearrangement in children with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia using cytogenetic and molecular methods.
The t(12;21) is the commonest recurrent translocation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the presence of which has been suggested to be a good prognostic feature. We have studied 22 childhood cases of B-precursor ALL with this rearrangement, and have found no significant differences in event-free survival between these and a control group of patients with similar phenotypes. Using a variety of cytogenetic and molecular techniques, we have confirmed a strong association with co-expression of myeloid markers, frequent deletions of the short-arm of the untranslocated chromosome 12 homologue and duplication of the derivative chromosome 21. Intragenic deletion of the untranslocated ETV6 gene in 3/12 informative patients points to the likelihood of this gene being a target for deletion.
Kempski
H
H
LRF Centre for Childhood Leukaemia, Department of Molecular Haematology, Institute of Child Health, London.
Chalker
J
J
Chessells
J
J
Sturt
N
N
Brickell
P
P
Webb
J
J
Clink
J M
JM
Reeves
B
B
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002881:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 / Q000235:genetics*; D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / Q000235:genetics*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008297:Male; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*