Lynne V. Abruzzo, M.D., Ph.D. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

GENETICS

Molecular Characterization of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Isolated Trisomy 12

Grant Awarded in 2011

Abstract:

The presence of an extra copy of chromosome 12 (+12) occurs in approximately 20% of CLL patients.  The appearance and expression of proteins on CLL cells in cases with +12 is often atypical compared to CLL cases without +12.  In addition, patients whose CLL cells have +12 often have a poorer prognosis compared to patients whose CLL cells have deletions in chromosome 13 (13q-), the most common chromosomal abnormality in CLL. A generous amount of information has been discovered regarding abnormalities in chromosome 13. However, there are few studies that have attempted to identify the critical genes that contribute to the more aggressive behavior of cases with +12. 

The goal of this project is to identify genes (protein-coding and microRNAs genes) that are differentially expressed in CLL cases with +12, compared to cases with 13q- and those with no abnormalities.  The information gathered may identify biological targets that contribute to the more aggressive clinical behavior of +12 and may form the basis for future individualized therapeutic approaches.