Chapter 16, Problem 26PDQ

Summary Introduction

To review:

The reason for the failure of a transcriptionally active fusion gene to cause chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in healthy individuals.

Introduction:

Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a type of cancer of the white blood cells (WBCs). In this form of leukemia, an increased and unregulated growth of the immature myeloid cells occurs in the bone marrow. This is followed by the accumulation of these proliferated cells in the blood and spleen. The characteristic genetic change responsible for this disease is a chromosomal translocation that leads to the formation of Philadelphia chromosome that contains the Breakpoint cluster region (BCR) and Abelson murine leukemia (ABL) genes to form a fusion protein, this protein is responsible for the failure of cell cycle control.