A study on 289 consecutive Korean patients with acute leukaemias revealed fluorescence in situ hybridization detects the MLL translocation without cytogenetic evidence both initially and during follow-up.
Translocations involving the MLL gene on the chromosome 11 (11q23) are frequently observed in acute leukaemia. The detection of this genetic change has a unique significance as a result of its implication of poor prognosis. To reveal the utility of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in detecting the MLL translocation, we analysed 289 consecutive Korean patients (children and adults) with acute leukaemias using both conventional cytogenetic analysis (CC) and FISH, placing an emphasis on the result discrepancies. Twenty-two of 289 patients (7.6%) had the 11q23/MLL translocation. In nine of 22 patients (41%), only FISH detected the translocation. In eight of these 22 patients, a total of 19 follow-up examinations were performed, of which FISH detected a significant level of leukaemic cells harbouring the MLL translocation in five patients (26%) without cytogenetic evidence. In addition to the MLL translocation, FISH detected submicroscopic amplification, partial deletion of the MLL gene and trisomy 11 in 12 patients without cytogenetic evidence. In summary, up to 41% of the MLL translocations at initial work-up and 26% during follow-up were detected by FISH without cytogenetic evidence. Thus, we recommend that MLL FISH should be performed in the diagnosis and monitoring of acute leukaemias in combination with CC.
Kim
Hee Jin
HJ
Department of Clinical Pathology, Department of Internal Medicine, and Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Cho
Han Ik
HI
Kim
Eui Chong
EC
Ko
Eun Kyong
EK
See
Cha Ja
CJ
Park
Seon Yang
SY
Lee
Dong Soon
DS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007223:Infant; D007621:Karyotyping; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497422:KMT2A protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D011495:Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase