title: Acute myeloid leukemia as a genetic disease. Review article.
abstract: The number of recurring genetic abnormalities recognized in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has increased rapidly in recent years and at present, acute leukemia is probably the most extensively analyzed human cancer. Combined cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies have revealed that clonal chromosome abnormalities are present in the majority of patients with AML that are very closely, and sometimes uniquely, associated with distinct subsets of leukemia. Detailed analysis of these rearrangements indicates that in most instances chromosome rearrangements result in gene fusions leading to chimeric abnormal protein with oncogenic potential. Continued identification and characterization of genes involved in the development of leukemia has a major impact on our understanding of the molecular biology of cancer and in formulating of biologically based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Hussein Makki Al-Juma Centre for Specialised Surgery, State of Kuwait.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Bahar
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Adriana
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandita
mesh_terms: D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics*