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The heterogeneity of pediatric MLL-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia

Leukemia volume 25, pages 1239–1248 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Translocations involving the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene, localized at 11q23, comprise 15 to 20% of all pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases. This review summarizes current knowledge about the etiology, biology, clinical characteristics and differences in outcome in MLL-rearranged pediatric AML. Furthermore, we discuss the role of cooperating events in MLL-rearranged pediatric AML, and future therapeutic strategies to improve outcome. We conclude that MLL-rearranged pediatric AML is a heterogeneous disease, and prognosis depends on various factors, for example, translocation partner, age, WBC and additional cytogenetic aberrations. The relationship of outcome with specific translocation partners requires that they be searched for in the diagnostic work-up of AML. To achieve further improvements in outcome, unraveling the biology of MLL-rearranged pediatric AML is warranted.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Anne-Sophie E Darlington for editorial assistance. We thank the different study groups (BFM, JPLSG, LAME, CPH, AIEOP, COG, St Jude, NOPHO, DCOG and MRC) for their collaboration in the MLL-rearranged pediatric AML study.

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  1. Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Erasmus MC/Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    B V Balgobind, C M Zwaan, R Pieters & M M Van den Heuvel-Eibrink

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  1. B V Balgobind
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  2. C M Zwaan
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  3. R Pieters
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  4. M M Van den Heuvel-Eibrink
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Correspondence to M M Van den Heuvel-Eibrink.

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Balgobind, B., Zwaan, C., Pieters, R. et al. The heterogeneity of pediatric MLL-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 25, 1239–1248 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2011.90

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2011.90

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