Co-corresponding authors Charles Mullighan, MBBS, MD, and Jeffery Klco, MD, PhD, both of St. Jude Pathology, participated in a study to better understand drivers of ambiguous cases of leukemia.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) start in different types of blood cells. The diseases need distinct treatments.
In about 4% of cases it is hard to tell AML from ALL. That makes diagnosis and treatment challenging.
Scientists at St. Jude and the Munich Leukemia Laboratory took a “big data” approach to understand the drivers of these ambiguous cases of leukemia. They gathered 2,573 acute leukemia samples from three continents. They looked for unknown DNA alterations that cause the disease.
The scientists found a new subtype of leukemia. It is driven by rearrangements that deregulate a gene called BCL11B.
About 30% of hard-to-classify leukemia cases are this subtype.
“Identifying the biologic basis of this group is a key first step to understanding disease development,” said Charles Mullighan, MBBS, MD, St. Jude Pathology.
Cancer Discovery published a report on this work.
More Information
-
St. Jude Newsroom
Visit the St. Jude newsroom to read our latest news, find media relations contacts and explore resources for journalists and bloggers.
-
Research at St. Jude
At St. Jude, science matters. From molecular breakthroughs to innovative therapies, our research discovers the cures of tomorrow, and saves children's lives today.
-
Research News & Publications
Browse the latest peer-reviewed articles from St. Jude investigators and clinicians, as well as breaking news, in-depth features and our Scientific Report.
-
About St. Jude
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
-
Clinical & Research Innovation
At St. Jude, we dream big, and build our research programs to match. Explore just a few of the pioneering initiatives that make St. Jude different.
-
Careers
St. Jude is a world-class research hospital seeking a diverse staff of faculty, researchers, clinicians, fundraisers and more. Find a job and help save lives.
-
Education and Training
St. Jude offers world-class scientific and clinical training experiences for fellows, students and other trainees. We also share knowledge through international outreach.