1. ¹Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2. ²Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

Correspondence: Professor JD Crispino, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Lurie 5-113, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. E-mail: j-crispino@northwestern.edu

Abstract

Red blood cells and megakaryocytes arise from a common precursor, the megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor and share many regulators including the transcription factors GATA-1 and GFI-1B and signaling molecules such as JAK2 and STAT5. These lineages also share the distinction of being associated with rare, but aggressive malignancies that have very poor prognoses. In this review, we will briefly summarize features of normal development of red blood cells and megakaryocytes and also highlight events that lead to their leukemic transformation. It is clear that much more work needs to be done to improve our understanding of the unique biology of these leukemias and to pave the way for novel targeted therapeutics.