The theory of APL

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Abstract
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is associated with reciprocal and balanced chromosomal translocations always involving the Retinoic Acid Receptor α (RARα) gene on chromosome 17 and variable partner genes (X genes) on distinct chromosomes. RARα fuses to the PML gene in the vast majority of APL cases, and in a few cases to the PLZF, NPM, NuMA and STAT5b genes. As a consequence, X-RARα and RARα-X fusion genes are generated encoding aberrant fusion proteins that can interfere with X and/or RARα function. Here we will review the relevant conclusions and the open questions that stem from a decade of in vivo analysis of APL pathogenesis in the mouse in transgenic and knock-out models.