Leukemia in Infants

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Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in infants have in common a high incidence of translocations of the MLL gene at chromosome band 11q23. Similar translocations occur in leukemias associated with chemotherapies that target DNA topoisomerase II. MLL has numerous different partner genes. The role of the many MLL fusion proteins in leukemogenesis is not yet understood. The t(4;11) translocation, the most common translocation in infant ALL, adversely affects the outcome. Additional genetic changes, especially Ikaros alterations, are found in infant ALL. Other forms of myeloid leukemia in infants present as myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes, which may be associated with constitutional disorders. This review will consider all leukemia in infants, but will focus on leukemias with MLL gene translocations.
Funding Information
  • NIH (1R29CA66140-04, 1RO1CA80175-01, 1RO1CA77683-01)
  • American Cancer Society (RPG-95-088-04-LBC)
  • Leukemia Society of America Scholar (1996-2001)
  • National Childhood Cancer Foundation
  • National Leukemia Research Association
  • Memory of Maria Bernabe Garcia
  • The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia High Risk High Impact
  • NIH Cooperative Research (CA111796-30)