Hu-ets-1 gene in congenital leukemia with t(11;19)(q23;p13)

Cytogenetic analysis of the leukemic cells from a 1-day-old baby with an acute myelomonocytic leukemia revealed them to contain a chromosome change of t(11;19)(q23;p13). Molecular studies using a 980 bp HindIII/HpaI digested v-ets probe showed no DNA rearrangements, deletions, or amplification in the leukemic cells, including the JH immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (alpha or beta) genes. The findings indicate that the leukemic cells with t(11;19)(q23;p13) appear not to contain a transposition or rearrangement of the protooncogene Hu-ets-1 located at 11q23, as previously described in leukemic cells with t(4;11)(q21;q23) and t(9;11)(p22;q23). The leukemic cases with t(11;19)(q23;p13) studied by us showed a phenotype compatible with their myelomonocytic nature, although it is possible that other cases may have a lymphoid phenotype.