27 research outputs found
Use of multiple T cell-directed intact ricin immunotoxins for autologous bone marrow transplantation
In utero rearrangements in the trithorax-related oncogene in infant leukaemias
The majority (~ 75%) of infant acute leukaemias have a reciprocal translocation between chromosome 11q23 and one of several partner chromosomes. The gene at 11q23 (named MLL, ALT-1, HRX or HTRX-1) has been cloned and shares homology with the Drosophilaila developmental genetrithorax. Rearrangements of this gene (called HRX here) occur in introns and cluster in a region of ~ 10 kb; individual patients have difierent breakpoints. Here we describe three pairs of infant twins with concordant leukaemia who each share unique (clonal) but non-constitutive HRX rearrangements in their leukaemic cells, providing evidence that the leukaemogenic event originates in utero and unequivocal support for the intra-placental 'metastasis' hypothesis for leukaemia concordance in twins.link_to_subscribed_fulltex