LABORATORY RESEARCH ERG Dependence Distinguishes Developmental Control of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Maintenance from Hematopoietic Specification Using in vitro and in vivo models of hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) development, researchers provide strong evidence that ERG is at the center of a distinct regulatory program that is not required for hematopoietic specification or differentiation but is critical for HSC maintenance during embryonic development. [Genes Dev] cpsf1 Is Required for Definitive Hematopoietic Stem Cell Survival in Zebrafish To identify novel genes involved in hematopoiesis, researchers performed an ENU mutagenesis screen in zebrafish looking for mutants with defective definitive hematopoiesis. [Blood] JAK2 Rearrangements, Including the Novel SEC31A-JAK2 Fusion, Are Recurrent in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma The finding of a JAK2-involving t(4;9)(q21;p24) in one case of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) prompted investigators to characterize this translocation on a molecular level and to determine the prevalence of JAK2 rearrangements in cHL. [Blood] Ectopic Expression of Nup98-HoxA10 Augments Erythroid Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Scientists demonstrate that expression of NUP98-HOXA10hd in human embryonic stem cells influences the hematopoietic differentiation program. [Stem Cells] The Self-Association Coiled-Coil Domain of PML Is Sufficient for the Oncogenic Conversion of the Retinoic Acid Receptor (RAR) Alpha The promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) coiled-coil domain represents the minimal structural determinant indispensable to transform RAR alpha into an oncogenic protein. [Leukemia] Targeted Inhibition of mTORC1 and mTORC2 by Active-Site mTOR Inhibitors Has Cytotoxic Effects in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Scientists explored the therapeutic potential of active-site mammaliam Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors against both T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines and primary samples from T-ALL patients displaying activation of mTORC1 and mTORC2. [Leukemia] Prdm14 Initiates Lymphoblastic Leukemia After Expanding a Population of Cells Resembling Common Lymphoid Progenitors Investigators show that Prdm14 is overexpressed in ~25% of human lymphoid neoplasms, with increased frequencies in T-cell acute lymphoid leukemias (LL) and hyperdiploid precursor B-cell acute LL. [Oncogene] Recombinant Human CD19-Ligand Protein as a Potent Anti-Leukemic Agent Researchers report the cloning and characterization of a novel 54-kDa high-mobility group-box protein as the ligand for the human pan-B cell co-receptor CD19, which interacts with the extracellular domain of CD19 in trans. [Br J Haematol] CLINICAL RESEARCH RUNX1 Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results from a Comprehensive Genetic and Clinical Analysis from the AML Study Group Acute myeloid leukemias with RUNX1 mutations are characterized by distinct genetic properties and are associated with resistance to therapy and inferior outcome. [J Clin Oncol] TET2 Mutations Improve the New European LeukemiaNet Risk Classification of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study TET2 mutations improve the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) molecular-risk classification in primary cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia because of their adverse prognostic impact in an otherwise favorable-risk patient subset. The data suggest that these patients may be candidates for alternative therapies. [J Clin Oncol] Overexpression of IL-3R Alpha on CD34+CD38- Stem Cells Defines Leukemia-Initiating Cells in FA AML Researchers attempted to identify cell surface markers for leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) in Fanconi anemia (FA) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Results demonstrate that interleukin-3 receptor alpha (IL-3R alpha) is a cell surface marker present on FA AML-LIC and may be a valuable therapeutic target. [Blood] |