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Review
. 2009 Jul;8(13):1204-11.
doi: 10.4161/cbt.8.13.8924.

MLL fusions: pathways to leukemia

Han Liu  1 , Emily H Y Cheng, James J D Hsieh
Affiliations
Review

MLL fusions: pathways to leukemia

Han Liu et al. Cancer Biol Ther. 2009 Jul.

Abstract

Human leukemias with chromosomal band 11q23 aberrations that disrupt the MLL/HRX/ALL-1 gene portend poor prognosis. MLL associated leukemias account for the majority of infant leukemia, approximately 10% of adult de novo leukemia and approximately 33% of therapy related acute leukemia with a balanced chromosome translocation. The 500 kD MLL precursor is processed by Taspase1 to generate mature MLL(N320/C180), which orchestrates many aspects of biology such as embryogenesis, cell cycle, cell fate and stem cell maintenance. Leukemogenic MLL translocations fuse the common MLL N-terminus (approximately 1,400 aa) in frame with more than 60 translocation partner genes (TPGs). Recent studies on MLL and MLL leukemia have greatly advanced our knowledge concerning the normal function of MLL and its deregulation in leukemogenesis. Here, we summarize the critical biological and pathological activities of MLL and MLL fusions, and discuss available models and potential therapeutic targets of MLL associated leukemias.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Domain structure and the proteolytic maturation of the MLL protein. (B) Mechanisms of MLL fusion induced gene deregulation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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