Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020 Nov;38(11):1366-1374.
doi: 10.1002/stem.3263. Epub 2020 Aug 26.

Clinical and molecular consequences of fusion genes in myeloid malignancies

Toshihiro Matsukawa  1 , Peter D Aplan  1
Affiliations
Review

Clinical and molecular consequences of fusion genes in myeloid malignancies

Toshihiro Matsukawa et al. Stem Cells. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Leukemias are heterogeneous diseases characterized by aberrant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Oncogenic fusion genes and proteins, produced via gross chromosomal rearrangements, such as chromosomal translocation, insertion, and inversion, play important roles in hematologic malignancies. These oncoproteins alter fundamental cellular properties, such as self-renewal, differentiation, and proliferation, and confer leukemogenic potential to HSPCs. In addition to providing fundamental insights into the process of leukemic transformation, these fusion genes provide targets for treatment and monitoring of myeloid leukemias. Furthermore, new technologies such as next-generation sequencing have allowed additional insights into the nature of leukemic fusion genes. In this review, we discuss the history, biologic effect, and clinical impact of fusion genes in the field of myeloid leukemias.

Keywords: chromosomal rearrangement; fusion genes; leukemia; myeloid leukemia; oncoprotein.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Cancer Genome Atlas Research N, Ley TJ, Miller C, et al. Genomic and epigenomic landscapes of adult de novo acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(22):2059-2074.
    1. Hunger SP, Mullighan CG. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(16):1541-1552.
    1. Caspersson T, Zech L, Johansson C. Differential binding of alkylating fluorochromes in human chromosomes. Exp Cell Res. 1970;60(3):315-319.
    1. Nowell PC, Hungerford DA. A minute chromosome in human chronic granulocytic leukemia. Science. 1960;132:1497.
    1. Rowley JD. Letter: a new consistent chromosomal abnormality in chronic myelogenous leukaemia identified by quinacrine fluorescence and Giemsa staining. Nature. 1973;243(5405):290-293.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources