Abstract
Chromosome 11 abnormalities are found in many hematological malignancies. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a proto-oncogene MLL (11q23.3) is frequently altered.
However, rearrangements involving other regions of chromosome 11 have been reported. Chromosome 11 abnormalities were delineated in 54 out of 300 (18%) newly diagnosed AML patients.
At least 36 different chromosome 11 breakpoints were identified; two were recurrent (11p15.4 in the NUP98 gene and 11q23.3 in the MLL gene), and three were possibly nonrandom: 11p13 (ch11:29.31-31.80 Mb), 11p12 (ch11:36.75-37.49 Mb) and 11q13.2 (68.31-68.52 Mb). One new MLL gene rearrangement is described.
No commonly deleted region of chromosome 11 was identified. However, some regions were affected more often: 11pter-11p15.5 (n = 4; ch11:0-3.52 Mb), 11p14.1-11p13 (n = 4; ch11:28.00-31.00 Mb) and 11p13 (n = 4; ch11:31.00-31.50 Mb).
One commonly duplicated (3 copies) region was identified in chromosomal band 11q23.3-11q24 (n = 9; ch11:118.35-125.00 Mb). In all eight cases of 11q amplification (>3 copies), only the 5' part of the MLL gene was affected.
This study highlights several chromosome 11 loci that might be important for the leukemogeneic process in AML.