Interstitial deletions of the short arm of chromosome 9 are associated with glioma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, melanoma, mesothelioma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. The distal breakpoints of the deletions (in relation to the centromere) in 14 glioma and leukemia cell lines have been mapped within the 400 kb IFN gene cluster located at band 9p2l. To obtain information about the mechanism of these deletions, we have isolated and analyzed the nucleotide sequences at the breakpoint junctions in two glioma-derived cell lines. The A1235 cell line has a complex rearrangement of chromosome 9, including a deletion and an inversion that results in two breakpoint junctions. Both breakpoints of the distal inversion junction occurred within AT-rich regions. In the A172 cell line, a tandem heptamer repeat was found on either side of the deletion breakpoint junction. The distal breakpoint occurred 5' of IFNA2; the 256 bp sequenced from the proximal side of the breakpoint revealed 95% homology to long interspersed nuclear elements. One-and two-base-pair overlaps were observed at these junctions. The possible role of sequence overlaps, and repetitive sequences, in the rearrangements is discussed.Several chromosomal mechanisms leading to the loss of function of putative tumor suppressor genes and the subsequent abnormal growth and proliferation of cancer cells have been described previously (16). Such mechanisms include point mutations, somatic crossing over, deletions and unbalanced translocations, and chromosome nondisjunction. The molecular cloning and characterization of several tumor suppressor genes, such as TP53 on chromosome 17pl3 (19, 43), RB1 on chromosome 13q14 (13), WTI on chromosome 11p13 (5), and APC on chromosome 5 (25), have greatly expanded our understanding of the role of tumor suppressor genes in the development of cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interstitial deletions and unbalanced translocations associated with tumor suppressor genes have not been well studied.Recent data indicate that unbalanced translocations or interstitial deletions of the short arm of chromosome 9 [del(9p)] are recurring chromosomal abnormalities in a variety of tumor types, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, glioma, melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and bladder cancer (1,2,7,8,23,28,29,35,40,42). Through molecular analysis, homozygous deletions of DNA sequences or losses of heterozygosity on 9p in a significant proportion of these tumors have been described (4, 10-12, 20, 24, 29, 31-33). Although the lengths and locations of these deletions vary, there is a common region of deletion at band 9p2l. This suggests the presence of a tumor suppressor gene in this region, whose inactivation contributes to the malignant process in all these different tumor types. The molecular studies with the different tumor types have demonstrated that the deletions involving 9p are sometimes interstitial and often include homozygous deletions of all or part of the interferon (IFN)...
Translocations and deletions of the short arm of chromosome 12 [t(12p) and del(12p)] are common recurring abnormalities in a broad spectrum of hematologic malignant diseases. We studied 20 patients and one cell line whose cells contained 12p13 translocations and/or 12p deletions using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with phage, plasmid, and cosmid probes that we previously mapped and ordered on 12p12–13. FISH analysis showed that the 12p13 translocation breakpoints were clustered between two cosmids, D12S133 and D12S142, in 11 of 12 patients and in one cell line. FISH analysis of 11 patients with deletions demonstrated that the deletions were interstitial rather than terminal and that the distal part of 12p12, including the GDI-D4 gene and D12S54 marker, was deleted in all 11 patients. Moreover, FISH analysis showed that cells from 3 of these patients contained both a del(12p) and a 12p13 translocation and that the affected regions of these rearrangements appeared to overlap. We identified three yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones that span all the 12p13 translocation breakpoints mapped between D12S133 and D12S142. They have inserts of human DNA between 1.39 and 1.67 Mb. Because the region between D12S133 and D12S142 also represents the telomeric border of the smallest commonly deleted region of 12p, we also studied patients with a del(12p) using these YACs. The smallest YAC, 964c10, was deleted in 8 of 9 patients studied. In the other patient, the YAC labeled the del(12p) chromosome more weakly than the normal chromosome 12, suggesting that a part of the YAC was deleted. Thus, most 12p13 translocation breakpoints were clustered within the sequences contained in the 1.39 Mb YAC and this YAC appears to include the telomeric border of the smallest commonly deleted region. Whether the same gene is involved in both the translocations and deletions is presently unknown.
The molecular analysis of recurring chromosome rearrangements, especially of translocations and inversions, has provided us with valuable insight into the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies. Many translocations result in the fusion of genes located at the translocation breakpoints. In recent years we have witnessed a rapid rise in the number of chromosome translocations in leukemias being characterized at the molecular level. However, the number of genes being newly identified as translocation fusion genes has not risen at the same pace. This is due to the fact that several genes are involved in more than one translocation forming fusion genes with a number of other partner genes. Not only does one find star-shaped topologies, with one gene forming fusions with several others (e.g. ETV6/PDGFRB, ETV6/JAK2, ETV6/ABL etc.), but also networks connecting several genes with more than one fusion partner (e.g. ETV6/RUNX1 (AML1), RUNX1/CBFA2T1 (ETO), ETV6/EVI1, RUNX1/EVI1, ETV6/ABL, BCR/ABL). The emergence of such networks with the “recycling” of genes in new fusion combinations suggests that there is a rather limited number of genes which can be altered to cause leukemia.
The t(12;21) (p 13; q22) results in the fusion of the TEL gene located on chromosome 12 with the AML1 gene located on the derivative chromosome 21. Because this translocation is difficult to detect using standard cytogenetic techniques, 27 previously karyotyped B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines were evaluated for the presence of the TEL-AML1 fusion using the reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and cDNA sequencing. Six cell lines expressed the TEL-AML1 chimeric transcript by RT-PCR and the t(12;21) was confirmed by FISH analysis with probes for TEL, AML1, and chromosome 12. While only one of the 6 cell lines with the t(12;21) lost the der(12)t(12;21)-encoded AML1-TEL fusion transcript, 4 cell lines lacked expression of the nontranslocated allele of TEL and 5 cell lines lacked expression of CDKN2. Moreover, in 2 patients (1 with the TEL-AML1 transcript and 1 without), TEL expression was lost with disease progression; le, TEL was expressed in the initial cell lines (established at diagnosis or first relapse) whereas TEL was not expressed in the cell lines established from these patients in late-stage disease. These data show the coexistence of multiple genetic defects in childhood B-lineage ALL Cell lines with t(12;21) will facilitate the study of TEL-AML1 and AML1-TEL fusion proteins as well as TEL and CDKN2 gene inactivation in leukemia transformation and progression.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.