Abstract

LEVON HERRERA, Raquel; GONZALEZ OTERO, Alejandro; HERNANDEZ RAMIREZ, Porfirio  and  MARTINEZ ANTUNA, Gisela. MLL gene rearrangement in pediatric patients with acute leukemia. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter [online]. 2001, vol.17, n.2, pp. 108-114. ISSN 1561-2996.

MLL gene rearrangements are present in most of the cases with infant acute leukemia (AL) and are associated with specific biological variables and with poor clinical outcomes. In order to analyze its incidence and prognostic relevance, a molecular study was conducted in 29 children with AL from our institution by the Southern blot technique. These patients were at the onset of the disease or into a relapse. The FA4 probe that is a genomic insertion of the MLL gene was used in this study. We could detect genetic rearrangement in 3 patients under 1 that had a morphological type M5 AML with high white cell counts and with visceromegaly. These 3 patients died without attaining remission, which confirmed the value of the MLL gene rearrangement as an indicator of high risk leukemia and, therefore, as an appropiate tool for the timely administration of therapy adapted to risk

Keywords : GENE REARRANGEMENT [genetics]; LEUKEMIA, LYMPHOCYTIC, ACUTE [genetics]; LEUKEMIA, MYELOCYTIC, ACUTE [genetics]; CHILD, PRESCHOOL; RISK FACTORS; PROGNOSIS.

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