Identification of novel biomarkers for MLL-translocated acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) with translocations of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL/KMT2A) gene are common in young patients and are generally associated with poor clinical outcomes. The molecular biology of MLL fusion genes remains incompletely characterized and is complicated by the fact that more than 100 different partner genes have been identified in fusions with MLL. The continuously growing list of MLL fusions also represents a clinical challenge with respect to identification of novel fusions and tracking of the fusions to monitor progression of the disease after treatment. Recently, we have developed a novel single-donor model leukemia system that permits the development of human AML from normal cord blood cells. Gene expression analysis of this model and of MLL-AML patient samples has identified a number of candidate biomarker genes with highly biased expression on leukemic cells. Here, we present data demonstrating the potential clinical utility of several of these candidate genes for identifying known and novel MLL fusions.