Identification of amplified genes in a patient with acute myeloid leukemiaand double minute chromosomes

A case of acute myeloid leukemia (M2) with double minute chromosomes and co mplex karyotypic abnormalities was analyzed cytogenetically and molecularly . Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) showed that the 8q24 region that contains the MYC oncogene was not amplified. Instead, amplification of chro mosomal regions 11q23 --> qter and 9p11 --> pter was identified. Southern b lot analysis confirmed the CGH findings and showed that the ETS1, FLI1, SRP R, NFRKB, and KCNJ5 genes located at 11q23 --> 24 were amplified, whereas t he MLL at 11q23 was not amplified. Additionally, the IFN beta 1 and CDKN2A genes at 9p were amplified, but to a lesser degree. This is the first examp le of a case of acute myeloid leukemia with double minute chromosomes that has not involved amplification of either the MYC or the MLL genes. (C) Else vier Science Inc., 1999. All rights reserved.