Perspective: chromosomal aneuploidy in leukemia--lessons from down syndrome.
Abnormal number of chromosomes, aneuploidy, is the most common abnormality in leukemia and cancer. However, the casual relationship between aneuploidy and cancer is unclear. Additional copies of chromosome 21 are frequently found in leukemic cells. Constitutional trisomy 21 that characterizes Down Syndrome is associated with markedly increased risk for childhood leukemia. In this perspective I review recent studies that suggest that constitutional trisomy 21 promotes leukemic transformation during fetal hematopoiesis. As most of childhood leukemias arise in-utero, these studies are of general relevance to sporadic childhood leukemias.
Izraeli
Shai
S
Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Safra's Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. sizraeli@post.tau.ac.il
D000782:Aneuploidy; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*