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Molecular Cytogenetics

MLL amplification in acute leukaemia: a United Kingdom Cancer Cytogenetics Group (UKCCG) study

Leukemia volume 14, pages 1885–1891 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

The MLL gene, located at 11q23, is frequently rearranged in acute leukaemia as either chimaeric fusion genes or partial tandem duplications. We report a series of 12 acute leukaemia cases with apparent amplification of the MLL gene ascertained using fluorescence in situhybridisation (FISH). Seven cases showed intrachromosomal amplification of MLL, four cases showed extrachromosomal amplification as double minute chromosomes (dmin) and one case had separate subclones with dmin and homogenously staining region (hsr). Southern blot analysis of the MLL gene showed MLL gene rearrangement in three of the 10 successful cases. These cases do not naturally fall into either of the two recognised categories of MLL rearrangement and may represent a third variety of MLL gene abnormalities.

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Acknowledgements

With thanks to Jill Elliot for help with the Sheffield cases, Su Stenhouse for Southern blotting assistance and Michael Thirman, University of Chicago, USA for gift of the 0.74-kb MLL cDNA Southern blot probe. Also thanks to Penny Taylor, Department of Haematology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK for valuable advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    G Cuthbert, K Thompson, S McCullough & N Bown

  2. North Trent Cytogenetics Service, Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK

    A Watmore

  3. Department of Clinical Genetics, Yorkshire Regional Genetics Service, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK

    H Dickinson

  4. Oncology Cytogenetic Service, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, UK

    N Telford

  5. Laboratoire de Cytogenetique, CHU Le Bocage, Dijon, France

    F Mugneret

  6. Department of Haematology, Cytogenetics Laboratory, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK

    C Harrison

  7. Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

    M Griffiths

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Cuthbert, G., Thompson, K., McCullough, S. et al. MLL amplification in acute leukaemia: a United Kingdom Cancer Cytogenetics Group (UKCCG) study. Leukemia 14, 1885–1891 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2401919

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