Protracted postnatal natural histories in childhood 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 latt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genes chromosomes & cancer 2004-04, Vol.39 (4), p.335-340
Main Authors: Maia, Ana Teresa, Koechling, Joachim, Corbett, Robin, Metzler, Markus, Wiemels, Joseph L., Greaves, Mel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Archives
Child
Child, Preschool
Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
Diseases in Twins - genetics
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Leukemia - blood
Leukemia - diagnosis
Leukemia - genetics
Leukemia - pathology
Mass Screening
Medical History Taking - methods
Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
Oncogene Proteins, Fusion - genetics
Precancerous Conditions - diagnosis
Precancerous Conditions - genetics
Translocation, Genetic - genetics
Twins, Monozygotic - genetics
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1045-2257
1098-2264
DOI:10.1002/gcc.20003