Publications

JAK mutations in high-risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

June 9, 2009
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Vol. 106, No. 23
TARGET researchers built on their discoveries in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). They identified mutations in a class of protein kinase genes called the janus kinases (JAK) in high-risk ALL patients. Mutations in the JAK gene frequently occurred alongside alterations of IKAROS, (see below, NEJM). Importantly, almost 80% of patients with mutations in a JAK gene and deletion or mutations in IKAROS relapsed within four years compared to only 23% of patients with neither mutation. [Read Abstract]

Deletion of IKZF1 and Prognosis in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

January 7, 2009
The New England Journal of Medicine
NCI’s TARGET Initiative reported the discovery of a novel genetic marker for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the January 7, 2009 advance online edition of The New England Journal of Medicine. The genetic alteration identified, IKZF1, should improve clinicians’ ability to identify high-risk patients and better assign these patients to appropriate therapy. [Read More]