This paper reports the identification of high-frequency deletions in the Ikaros gene in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cases that are characterized by BCR-ABL1 translocations. In contrast, BCR-ABL1 CML is not associated with Ikaros deletions in chronic phase patients, but are often acquired during progression to blast crisis. These deletions lead to expression of altered transcripts. In contrast to previous models suggesting that these transcripts result from aberrant alternative splicing, it is shown that the deletions found are due to aberrant RAG-mediated recombination.
- Charles G. Mullighan
- Christopher B. Miller
- James R. Downing