Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0023418 (leukemia)
 93,477 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We established a real-time PCR method that can simultaneously detect 10 different fusion transcripts (major, minor and micro BCR/ABL, AML1/MTG8, PML/RARalpha, CBFbeta/MYH11, TEL/AML1, E2A/PBX1, MLL/AF4, and MLL/AF9) together with Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) transcripts. This screening method allowed the processing of six specimens concomitantly and required only one working day from RNA extraction to final results. Fifty-seven bone marrow (BM) samples from patients with acute leukemia were retrospectively screened for the presence of fusion and WT1 transcripts without knowledge of the cytogenetic data, and the fusion transcripts were detected in 20 of 57 samples (35.1%). The concordance between the present method and cytogenetic analysis was examined in 38 samples in which the cytogenetic data were available. In 12 of 38 samples, the PCR results agreed with the cytogenetic data, whereas in 4 of the remaining 26 samples, the translocations were detected by real-time PCR alone because of the insufficient number of metaphases obtained and presumably the submicroscopic or masked translocations. The WT1 levels ranged from 400 to 690,000 copies/microg RNA in BM from leukemia patients, whereas 0-470 copies/microg RNA were found in BM cells from BMT donors. This real-time PCR method enables rapid and efficient characterization of acute leukemia in addition to subsequent evaluation of minimal residual diseases.
 ...
PMID:Rapid screening of leukemia fusion transcripts in acute leukemia by real-time PCR. 1261 15

Ethylene oxide is a major industrial chemical used primarily as an intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals; e.g., ethylene glycol, a major component of automotive and other antifreeze products. Exposure to ethylene oxide is greatest in the health care industry, where an estimated 75,000 workers are potentially exposed. Ethylene oxide was nominated for toxicology and carcinogenesis studies in B6C3F1 mice because of its extensive production; the potential for human exposure in the workplace, from medical devices, or from food; the positive results of genetic toxicology assays; and the previous use of only F344/N rats in inhalation carcinogenicity studies. Two inhalation studies reported in 1984 by Snellings et al. and by Lynch et al. demonstrated carcinogenic responses in F344/N rats. Results were similar in both studies and consisted of increased incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia, peritoneal mesotheliomas, and primary brain tumors. Experimental Design: Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of ethylene oxide (greater than 99% pure) were conducted by exposing groups of 50 B6C3F1 mice of each sex to air containing 0, 50, or 100 ppm ethylene oxide, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 102 weeks. These doses were selected because, in 14-week studies, all mice exposed at 600 ppm died within 1 week, and all mice exposed at 400 ppm died by week 4. Rhinitis was observed in both sexes exposed at 200, 400, and 600 ppm as was renal tubular degeneration in both sexes at 100, 200, and 400 ppm. The latter effects observed at 100 ppm were slight and deemed not to be life threatening in 2-year studies. Two-Year Studies: Survival of exposed and control mice was comparable in the 2-year studies (male: control, 28/50; low dose, 31/50; high dose, 34/50; female: 25/50; 24/50;31/50). Final mean body weights in exposed mice were 95%-102% of those of the controls. No compound-related clinical signs were observed. Those neoplastic lesions that occurred at elevated incidences in mice exposed to ethylene oxide are reported in the following table (see page 6 of the Technical Report). In male mice, alveolar/bronchiolar carcinomas, alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas, and papillary cystadenomas of the harderian gland occurred with positive trends. In female mice, alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas, alveolar/bronchiolar carcinomas, papillary cystadenomas of the harderian gland, malignant lymphomas, and uterine adenocarcinomas occurred with positive trends. Mammary gland tumors also were increased in exposed female mice. Data Audit: An audit of the experimental data was conducted for the 2-year studies of ethylene oxide. No data discrepancies were found that influenced the final interpretations. Conclusions: Under the conditions of these 2-year inhalation studies, there was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity for B6C3F1 mice as indicated by dose-related increased incidences of benign or malignant neoplasms of the lung and benign neoplasms of the harderian gland in both male and female B6C3F1 mice following exposure to ethylene oxide vapors at 50 and 100 ppm. In female mice, ethylene oxide caused additional malignant neoplasms of the uterus, mammary gland, and hematopoietic system (lymphoma). Synonyms: oxirane; EO; ETO; dihydrooxirene; dimethylene oxide; 1,2-epoxyethane; oxane; a,beta-oxidoethane
 ...
PMID:NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Ethylene Oxide (CAS No. 75-21-8) in B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies). 1274 27

The fusion transcript AML1/ETO corresponding to translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22) can be found in approximately 7-12% of childhood de novo AML. Despite the favorable prognosis, some of these patients relapse. Most of MRD studies so far were performed on adults treated not uniformly. Therefore, we analyzed the follow-up of 15 AML1/ETO-positive children using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RQ-RT-PCR), all enrolled in the multicenter therapy trial AML-BFM 98. AML1/ETO copy numbers were normalized to the control gene ABL and the results were expressed in copy numbers AML1/ETO per 10 000 copies ABL. At diagnosis, a median of 10 789 copies AML1/ETO was found. A linear decrease to about 10 copies (2-4 log) could be seen in most of the children by the start of consolidation. In the majority of cases they remained positive at this low level during the ongoing therapy. Four children relapsed and two of them had a decrease of less than 2 log before starting consolidation. Three of the relapsed children showed, prior to relapse, an increase of the AML1/ETO fusion transcript at 6, 9, and 11 weeks, respectively. These results suggest that monitoring of minimal residual disease using RQ-RT-PCR could be helpful in detecting patients with a higher risk of relapse.
Leukemia 2003 Jun
PMID:Monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RQ-RT-PCR) in childhood acute myeloid leukemia with AML1/ETO rearrangement. 1276 80

Aleukemic myeloid leukemia cutis is extremely rare and is usually associated with early marrow relapse and poor treatment outcome. We report a 39-year-old man presenting with generalized cutaneous nodules. The initial diagnosis was cutaneous malignant lymphoma. New skin lesions and a nasopharyngeal mass developed during phototherapy. Biopsy of the cutaneous and nasopharyngeal lesions revealed monotonous blast cell infiltration. Cytochemical stain and immunophenotypic analysis of the fresh cell suspension made from another skin biopsy specimen identified that the neoplastic cells belonged to the monocytic lineage. A diagnosis of primary aleukemic leukemia cutis was established. The leukemic cells expressed CD56 but did not carry AML-1/ETO, CBFbeta/MYH11, or common MLL fusion transcripts. He received standard induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia, followed by high-dose postremission chemotherapy and has been disease-free for more than 30 months. To the best of our knowledge, the current case has the longest disease-free survival among those reported.
 ...
PMID:Primary aleukemic myeloid leukemia cutis treated successfully with combination chemotherapy: report of a case and review of the literature. 1276 24

The t(8;21)(q22;q22) translocation, occurring in 40% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of the FAB-M2 subtype (AML with maturation), results in expression of the RUNX1-CBF2T1 [AML1-ETO (AE)] fusion oncogene. AML/ETO may contribute to leukemogenesis by interacting with nuclear corepressor complexes that include histone deacetylases, which mediate the repression of target genes. However, expression of AE is not sufficient to transform primary hematopoietic cells or cause disease in animals, suggesting that additional mutations are required. Activating mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are present in at least 30% of patients with AML. To test the hypothesis that activating RTK mutations cooperate with AE to cause leukemia, we transplanted retrovirally transduced murine bone marrow coexpressing TEL-PDGFRB and AE into lethally irradiated syngeneic mice. These mice (19/19, 100%) developed AML resembling M2-AML that was transplantable in secondary recipients. In contrast, control mice coexpressing with TEL-PDGFRB and a DNA-binding-mutant of AE developed a nontransplantable myeloproliferative disease identical to that induced by TEL-PDGFRB alone. We used this unique model of AML to test the efficacy of pharmacological inhibition of histone deacetylase activity by using trichostatin A and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid alone or in combination with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, imatinib mesylate. We found that although imatinib prolonged the survival of treated mice, histone deacetylase inhibitors provided no additional survival benefit. These data demonstrate that an activated RTK can cooperate with AE to cause AML in mice, and that this system can be used to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies.
 ...
PMID:An activated receptor tyrosine kinase, TEL/PDGFbetaR, cooperates with AML1/ETO to induce acute myeloid leukemia in mice. 1288 86

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is perhaps the most potent endogenous negative regulator of hematopoiesis. The intracellular signaling events mediating the effects of TGF-beta are multiple, involving extensive crosstalk between Smad-dependent and MAP-kinase-dependent pathways. We are only beginning to understand the importance of the balance between these cascades as a determinant of the response to TGF-beta, and have yet to determine the roles that disruption in TGF-beta signaling pathways might play in leukemogenesis. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the function of TGF-beta in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. The principal observations made by gene targeting studies in mice are reviewed, with an emphasis on how a disruption of this pathway in vivo can affect blood cell development and immune homeostasis. We overview genetic alterations that lead to impaired TGF-beta signaling in hematopoietic neoplasms, including the suppression of Smad-dependent transcriptional responses by oncoproteins such as Tax and Evi-1, and fusion proteins such as AML1/ETO. We also consider mutations in genes encoding components of the core cell cycle machinery, such as p27(Kip1) and p15(INK4A), and emphasize their impact on the ability of TGF-beta to induce G1 arrest. The implications of these observations are discussed, and opinions regarding important directions for future research on TGF-beta in hematopoiesis are provided.
Leukemia 2003 Sep
PMID:Transforming growth factor-beta signaling in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. 1297 Jul 72

The AML1/ETO fusion gene is expressed in virtually all patients with t(8;21)(q22;q22) acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Long-term complete remission (CR) of AML with t(8;21) has been observed despite the presence of residual AML1/ ETO fusion transcripts, although detection may depend on the sensitivity of the methods used. We examined a patient with recurrent AML who showed the t(8;21)(q22;q22) chromosomal abnormality following a CR of 15 years. The blast cells at the time of recurrence expressed the AML1/ETO fusion transcript, and the breakpoint of the AML1 gene was located on intron 5. Southern blot analysis of the DNA extracted from bone marrow slides that had been made and stored for 15 years revealed the same rearrangement pattern of the AML1 gene. Furthermore, the junction sequences between the AML1 and the ETO genes, analyzed by long-distance inverse polymerase chain reaction, proved to be completely identical. These findings can be interpreted in two ways: (1) The initial leukemia clone persisted and finally relapsed after 15 years in the dormant state. (2) AML developed in different subclones having the same AML1/ETO junctional sequences but with additional genetic changes (second hit).
 ...
PMID:Recurrence of acute myelogenous leukemia with the same AML1/ETO breakpoint as at diagnosis after complete remission lasting 15 years: analysis of stored bone marrow smears. 1468 96

Insights into the pathogenesis of human leukemia have relied heavily on studies of the identified chromosomal translocations found in this group of malignant diseases. Acquired, balanced translocations in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) generally involve transcriptional regulatory genes, whereas in the myeloproliferative disorders tyrosine kinases are frequently involved. These rearrangements alter the function of at least one and often both of the involved genes. In this review, we focus on the AML1-ETO (a.k.a. RUNX1-ETO) fusion protein, which is found in t(8;21)+ AML. Expression of AML1-ETO in human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) preferentially enhances their maintenance, as opposed to their differentiation. The direct effects of AML1-ETO on human and murine HSCs, and the potentially cooperating events that may contribute to its leukemogenic properties, are discussed.
 ...
PMID:Effects of the leukemia-associated AML1-ETO protein on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. 1515 80

A common chromosomal translocation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) involves the AML1 (acute myeloid leukemia 1, also called RUNX1, core binding factor protein (CBF alpha), and PEBP2 alpha B) gene on chromosome 21 and the ETO (eight-twenty one, also called MTG8) gene on chromosome 8. This translocation generates an AML1-ETO fusion protein. t(8;21) is associated with 12% of de novo AML cases and up to 40% in the AML subtype M2 of the French-American-British classification. Furthermore, it is also reported in a small portion of M0, M1, and M4 AML samples. Despite numerous studies on the function of AML1-ETO, the precise mechanism by which the fusion protein is involved in leukemia development is still not fully understood. In this review, we will discuss structural aspects of the fusion protein and the accumulated knowledge from in vitro analyses on AML1-ETO functions, and outline putative mechanisms of its leukemogenic potential.
 ...
PMID:The 8;21 translocation in leukemogenesis. 1515 81

Many studies have assessed the clinical significance of the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute leukemia. Thus far, many studies have suggested that MRD detection to evaluate the response to chemotherapy is useful for predicting the prognosis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, few studies have reported on the significance of MRD in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML), because of small numbers of patients and limited availability of MRD markers. Therefore, we monitored MRD using currently available markers at several points during the treatment for childhood AML and tried to intensify the treatment based on the results of MRD. Thirty-one patients (26 de novo cases and 5 other cases) were examined for MRD between February 1999 and May 2002. After the first consolidation therapy (consolidation 1), the expression of Wilms tumor gene (WT1) and/or leukemia-specific fusion genes such as AML1/MTG8, PML/RAR alpha, and MYH11/CBF beta were analyzed. Patients with positive MRD but in hematological remission at that point were recommended to undergo stem cell transplantation (SCT). Positive WT1 expression (more than 10(3) copies/microgram RNA) was detected in 18 of 31 patients (58.1%) at onset. After consolidation 1 therapy, the WT1 expression became negative in 14 of 18 patients. The AML1/MTG8 fusion gene was expressed in 8 patients, PML/RAR alpha was expressed in 3 patients, and MYH11/CBF beta was expressed in 1 patient. Four of the 8 patients with AML1/MTG8 expression and all 3 with PML/RAR alpha expression also demonstrated positive WT1 expression at onset. Eight (5 de novo cases and 3 other cases) of the 31 patients had no available MRD markers. Four patients who showed pesistently high expression of WT1 after consolidation 1 therapy underwent SCT, and only 1 patient remained in complete remission (CR). Among 14 patients who became negative for WT1 expression, 6 patients received SCT for various reasons. Among 8 patients with the AML1/MTG8 fusion gene, 2 became MRD negative and 6 continued to be positive. Four of these 6 patients underwent SCT, and all but one who underwent syngeneic SCT became MRD negative. On the other hand, 1 of the 2 patients who continued on chemotherapy continued to be MRD positive, suggesting a graft-versus-leukemia effect in allogeneic SCT. All patients with the PML/RAR alpha and MYH11/CBF beta fusion gene continued to be in CR. The 3-year event-free survival in de novo AML was 69.4% +/- 9.8% (n = 26), a result that is encouraging and superior to other reported outcomes. Thus, an MRD-based treatment strategy together with conventional risk factors appears to be required for further improving the outcomes of AML.
 ...
PMID:Clinical significance of minimal residual disease in childhood acute myeloid leukemia. 1516 92


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>