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IgH/TCR rearrangements are common in MLL translocated adult AML and suggest an early T/myeloid or B/myeloid maturation arrest, which correlates with the MLL partner

Leukemia volume 19, pages 2337–2338 (2005)Cite this article

TO THE EDITOR

MLL translocated (t-MLL) acute leukemias (AL) have long been recognised to coexpress both myeloid and lymphoid phenotypic markers, suggestive of a ‘biphenotypic’ or mixed lineage stage of maturation arrest.1 MLL partners described in AML (predominantly AF6, AF9, AF10, ELL) differ from those found in BCP-ALLs (AF4, ENL and AF9) and T-ALLs (ENL and/or chr.19p13 and AF6).2 Classical models of hematopoiesis are based on early separation of a myeloid/macrophage precursor from a common B and T lymphoid precursor (CLP), but alternative models based on intermediate T/myeloid (T/My) and B/My precursors have been proposed.3, 4 In an attempt to identify AL, which might correspond to expansions of intermediate T/My or B/My precursors, we searched for evidence of early heavy chain immunoglobulin (IgH) DJ and T-cell receptor (TCR) δ and γ rearrangements as early indicators of B and T lymphoid orientation, respectively, in 117 AML with known MLL status. The majority of patients were included, with informed consent, in EORTC or ALFA adult AML or LAME pediatric prospective studies.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all cliniciens and biologists who contributed material, particularly B Varet and colleagues (Hôpital Necker), A Bennaceur (Institut Gustav Roussy; Villejuif), F Cymbalista (Hotel Dieu, Paris), H Cavé, (Robert Debré, Paris), A Baruchel, T Leblanc et JM Cayuela (St Louis, Paris) and P Ballerini, A Auvrignon and G Leverger (Trousseau, Paris). We particularly acknowledge the contribution of the late Pr André Brizard (Poitiers). This work was supported by the fondation contre la leucémie de la Fondation de France, la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, l’Association de la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC) and the Biomed-2 BMH4-CT98-3936 concerted action.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Hematology and INSERM EMIU210, Hôpital Necker and Université Paris V – René Descartes, Paris, France

    C Dupret, V Asnafi, D Leboeuf, C Millien, R Ben Abdelali, K Beldjord, E Delabesse & E Macintyre

  2. Biological Hematology CHRU Lille, France

    C Preudhomme

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  1. C Dupret
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  2. V Asnafi
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  3. D Leboeuf
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  4. C Millien
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  7. K Beldjord
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  8. E Delabesse
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  9. E Macintyre
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Correspondence to E Macintyre.

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Dupret, C., Asnafi, V., Leboeuf, D. et al. IgH/TCR rearrangements are common in MLL translocated adult AML and suggest an early T/myeloid or B/myeloid maturation arrest, which correlates with the MLL partner. Leukemia 19, 2337–2338 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403981

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