Molecular characterisation of a recurrent, semi-cryptic RUNX1 translocation t(7;21) in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia

Nicola Foster, Kajsa Paulsson, Mark Sales, Joan Cunningham, Michael Groves, Nigel O'Connor, Suriya Begum, Tracy Stubbs, Dominic J. McMullan, Michael Griffiths, Norman Pratt, Sudhir Tauro

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    20 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    P>A proportion of cytogenetic abnormalities in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) may escape detection by high-resolution genomic technologies, but can be identified by conventional cytogenetic and molecular analysis. Here, we report the detection of a reciprocal translocation t(7;21)(p22;q22) in the marrow of two adults with MDS and AML, using conventional cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence-in situ-hybridization (FISH). Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequence analysis identified a fusion between RUNX1 and the gene encoding ubiquitin specific peptidase-42 (USP42), with splice-variants and variable break-points within RUNX1. Combined cytomorphology and FISH studies in MDS marrow revealed abnormal RUNX1 signals within megakaryocytes, suggesting that the acquisition of t(7;21)(p22;q22) does not confer complete differentiation arrest and may represent an early genetic event in leukaemogenesis. Single nucleotide polymorphism-arrays failed to detect additional sub-microscopic genomic changes predisposing to or associated with t(7;21). Molecular analysis of 100 MDS and AML marrow specimens by RT-PCR did not reveal new cases with the RUNX1-USP42 fusion. Thus, our studies have identified t(7;21)(p22;q22) as a rare but recurrent abnormality in MDS/AML, with the existence of alternative spliced forms of the RUNX1-USP42 transcript in different patients. Further studies are required to identify the potential contribution of these splice-variants to disease heterogeneity.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)938-943
    Number of pages6
    JournalBritish Journal of Haematology
    Volume148
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2010

    Keywords

    • RUNX1-USP42
    • acute myeloid leukaemia
    • myelodysplastic syndrome
    • T(8/21)
    • MUTATIONS
    • FUSION
    • AML1

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