Hu-ets-2 is translocated to chromosome 8 in the t(8;21) in acute myelogenous leukemia

The human genome contains two distinct loci with homology to the viral ets gene, the transforming sequence of the E26 avian erythroblastosis virus; these loci, Hu-ets-1, and Hu-ets-2, have been mapped to 11q23 and 21q22, respectively. Using in situ chromosomal hybridization, we have demonstrated that Hu-ets-2 is translocated to chromosome #8, the chromosome containing the critical or conserved junction, as a result of the t(8;21) (q22;q22) in acute myelogenous leukemia. Another protooncogene, c-mos, is also retained at the conserved junction, suggesting that one or both of these genes may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute myelogenous leukemia.