Abstract
Monozygotic twin pairs with concordant ALL have provided unique insights into the molecular pathogenesis and natural history of childhood leukaemia. Data from twin pair studies and neonatal blood spot screening indicate that ETV6-RUNX1 usually arises as an early or initiating pre-natal event. Its consequence appears to be the generation of a clinically silent or covert but persistent pre-leukaemic clone. Conversion to overt, clinical ALL then requires the acquisition of one or more additional genetic lesions that functionally complement ETV6-RUNX1, often including deletions of the non-rearranged ETV6 allele. Recent genome wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array based studies have revealed considerably more genetic complexity than previously suspected, with ETV6-RUNX1 cases having an average of 6 (range 1–21) genomic losses or gains (
Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
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