CHARACTERIZATION OF 2 11Q23.3-11Q24 DELETIONS AND MAPPING OF ASSOCIATED ANONYMOUS DNA MARKERS

Translocations in bands 11q23.3-11q24 are associated with several huma n cancers, including acute lymphoid and acute myeloid leukemias (AML) and Ewing's sarcoma. We have characterized two independent deletions i n this region, one derived from a patient with AML who previously had a T-cell lymphoma, and another from a Wilms' tumor patient. Cytogeneti c analysis of the ML-2 cell line established from the malignant cells of the AML patient indicated that one chromosome II homolog had an int erstitial deletion, del(11) (q23q24), and the remaining homolog was in volved in a recurring translocation, t(6;11) (q27;q23). According to k aryotype analysis on the Wilms' tumor patient (EH), one chromosome II was normal and the other carried an interstitial deletion at 11q23.3-1 1q25. Somatic cell hybrids segregating the EH deletion (EHR4) and the ML-2 deletion (MLR4) have been isolated. The EH deletion is distal to the MLL probe recently associated with 11q23.3 leukemia breakpoints (Z iemin-van der Poel et al.: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:10735-10739, 1991 ). The ML-2 deletion could involve the MLL gene at a point distal to o ther breakpoints within MLL Both deletions include the Ewing's sarcoma breakpoint at 11q24.1. By Southern blot analysis we identified three anonymous DNA markers (D11S272, D11S273, and D11S219) and the ETSI onc ogene, which map within each deleted region. These markers are conserv ed based on zoo blot analysis, and they are valuable for physical mapp ing and genetic characterization of a region that may code for gene pr oducts associated with growth control and tumor suppression in a varie ty of cancers. Genes Chrom Cancer 7:67-73 (1993).