Rearrangement of the myeloid-lymphoid leukaemia gene in Hong Kong Chinese children with acute leukaemia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of rearrangement of the myeloid-lymphoid leukaemia gene in acute leukaemia in Hong Kong Chinese children. DESIGN: Immunophenotyping, cytogenetic, and molecular analysis. SETTING: Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples were taken from 27 children aged 16 years or younger with acute leukaemia, from September 1995 through February 1998. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gene rearrangement was analysed by Southern blotting of HindIII digestion products of mononuclear cell DNA, followed by hybridisation with the myeloid-lymphoid leukaemia P/S4 probe. Nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to detect and characterise duplication of the myeloid-lymphoid leukaemia gene. RESULTS: Only one (4%) of 23 children whose marrow or peripheral blood samples contained adequate material for genetic study showed rearrangement in the myeloid-lymphoid leukaemia gene. No children were positive for partial tandem duplication of the myeloid-lymphoid leukaemia gene. CONCLUSION: Myeloid-lymphoid leukaemia gene rearrangement is rare in Hong Kong Chinese children with acute leukaemia.