Korean J Hematol.  2002 Aug;37(3):169-176.

TEL/AML1 Fusion Transcripts in Childhood B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

• Choi SJ
• Chi HS
• Park CJ
• Seo EZ
• Seo JJ
• Ghim T
• Moon HN

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The t(12;21)(p13;q22), which fuses the TEL gene on chromosome 12p13 and the AML1 gene on chromosome 21q22, is observed in approximately 20~25% of childhood B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases and is associated with a favorable outcome. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the frequency of TEL/AML1 fusion in the patients diagnosed as childhood B-precursor ALL.
METHODS
Because of the low detection rate by routine karyotypic analysis, we studied 54 children with B-lineage ALL using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis.
RESULTS
Results of this analysis demonstrated a 9.3% frequency of TEL/AML1 fusion, relatively lower than Japanese, Taiwanese and Caucasian children. All five patients with TEL/AML1 fusion showed CD10 positivity and predominance of male patients (4:1). Two cases of TEL/AML1 positive groups expressed the myeloid antigens, but no significance was noted (P>0.05). In TEL/AML1 positive groups, the leukemia was developed between 4 and 5 years old age (favorable age) and showed low initial leukocyte counts (<50,000/micro L).
CONCLUSION
Although these findings combined with earlier reports indicate that TEL/ AML1 fusion was frequent genetic abnormality in childhood ALL, relatively low frequency in Korean patients suggested the existence of geographic or racial variations in the genotype of ALL.

Keyword

Childhood; B-lineage ALL; TEL/AML1 fusion

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Child
Child, Preschool
Fluorescence
Genotype
Humans
In Situ Hybridization
Leukemia
Leukocyte Count
Male
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma*
Retrospective Studies