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Related Experiment Videos

Leukemia in twins: lessons in natural history.

Mel F Greaves1, Ana Teresa Maia, Joseph L Wiemels

  • 1Leukemia Research Fund Centre, Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Rd, London SW3 6JB, United Kingdom. m.greaves@icr.ac.uk

Blood
|June 7, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Identical twins with concordant leukemia share a common origin, often developing before birth. Further events after birth are needed for clinical disease in childhood leukemia.

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Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Hematology
  • Molecular Genetics

Background:

  • Concordant leukemia in identical twins offers unique insights into pediatric leukemia development.
  • Historical and molecular studies have explored the origins and progression of twin leukemias.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on concordant twin leukemias.
  • To elucidate the molecular basis and natural history of pediatric leukemia using twin studies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical literature on twin leukemias.
  • Analysis of molecular biologic studies, including clonality markers and genomic fusion sequences.
  • Examination of clonotypic gene fusion sequences in neonatal blood spots.

Main Results:

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  • Twin leukemias demonstrate a common clonal origin, supporting fetal transmission via placental vascular anastomoses.
  • Evidence suggests a frequent prenatal origin and early role for chromosome translocations in leukemia development.
  • A variable, protracted latency period exists, with postnatal factors contributing to clinical disease in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)/acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML).

Conclusions:

  • Twin leukemia studies provide critical insights into the prenatal origins and molecular pathogenesis of pediatric leukemia.
  • Understanding these mechanisms aids in unraveling the etiology of childhood leukemia.
  • The findings highlight the importance of early genetic events and postnatal factors in leukemia development.