Relationship between the c-myb Locus and the 6q--Chromosomal Aberration in Leukemias and Lymphomas

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1987-02, Vol.235 (4792), p.1064-1067
• Main Authors: Barletta, Cosimo, Pelicci, Pier-Giuseppe, Kenyon, Lawrence C., Smith, Stephen D., Dalla-Favera, Riccardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute T cell leukemia; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Causes of; Cell lines; Cellular differentiation; Chromosome Deletion; Chromosome mapping; Chromosomes; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; Complementary DNA; Cytogenetics; DNA - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Amplification; Genetic aspects; Genetic loci; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Human; Human chromosome abnormalities; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia - genetics; Leukemia, Lymphoid - genetics; Leukemia, Myeloid - genetics; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - genetics; Lymphomas; Medical research; Messenger RNA; Myeloid leukemia; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Oncogenes; RNA, Messenger - genetics; T lymphocytes
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.3469751

Deletions of the long arm of chromosome 6 (6q-) are frequently found in hematopoietic neoplasms, including acute lymphoblastic leukemias, non-Hodgkin lymphomas and (less frequently) myeloid leukemias. The c-myb proto-oncogene has been mapped to region 6q21-24, which suggests that it could be involved in the 6q- aberrations. By means of in situ chromosomal hybridization on cells from six hematopoietic malignancies, it was demonstrated that the c-myb locus is not deleted, but is retained on band q22, which is consistently bordered by the chromosomal breakpoints in both interstitial and terminal 6q- deletions. The deletion breakpoints were located at some distance from the myb locus since no rearrangement of c-myb sequences was found. In one case, however, amplification of the entire c-myb locus was detectable. Furthermore, in all cases tested that carry 6q- deletions, myb messenger RNA levels were significantly higher than in normal cells or in malignant cells matched for lineage and stage of differentiation but lacking the 6q- marker. These results indicate that 6q- deletions are accompanied by structural and functional alterations of the c-myb locus and that these alterations may be involved in the pathogenesis of leukemias and lymphomas.