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Protracted postnatal natural histories in childhood leukemia
Author(s) -
Maia Ana Teresa,
Koechling Joachim,
Corbett Robin,
Metzler Markus,
Wiemels Joseph L.,
Greaves Mel
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
genes, chromosomes and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.754
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1098-2264
pISSN - 1045-2257
DOI - 10.1002/gcc.20003
Subject(s) - leukemia , childhood leukemia , etv6 , chromosomal translocation , disease , medicine , immunology , pediatrics , biology , pathology , gene , genetics , lymphoblastic leukemia
Studies of monozygotic twins with concordant leukemia and scrutiny of archived neonatal blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicated that many pediatric leukemias are initiated prenatally by chromosomal translocation followed by a variable postnatal period before diagnosis of disease. The latter is thought to reflect a persistent preleukemic stage and a requirement for secondary genetic events. We sought to examine this further by examination of blood spots in rare cases of MLL fusion‐positive or ETV6/RUNX1 ( TEL‐AML1 ) fusion gene–positive acute leukemia that were diagnosed at ages beyond the normal age range. We present evidence that the duration of the postnatal preleukemic state can occasionally be very protracted in these biological subtypes of pediatric leukemia, and we discuss its biological significance. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.