Mixed-lineage leukemia
A type of childhood leukemia in which a piece of chromosome 11 has been translocated (broken off and attached itself to another chromosome). Children with this type of leukemia have a particularly poor prognosis (outlook). The name comes from the fact that that the gene expression profiles in this disease differ from those seen in ALL and AML. They usually have very high white blood counts and a high frequency of central nervous system involvement. They do not respond at all well to the standard therapies for ALL (acute lymphoblastic or lymphocytic leukemia) and often suffer from early relapse after chemotherapy. The mixed lineage leukemia gene is located at 11q23. Translocations affecting this region may be seen in as many as 80% of infants presenting with acute leukemia in the first 6 months of life. The frequency diminishes between 6 months and 1 year of age, but is still significant. The frequency declines in children and then adults with increasing age but may still be found in 3% to 4% of adults with AML and ALL. The translocation may be difficult to detect with conventional chromosome analysis and more sophisticated analytic techniques may be needed to detect it. Mixed lineage leukemia is a distinct entity, not a subtype of ALL, and may require different therapeutic efforts be made.
Read Also:
- mm
Abbreviation for millimeters. For example, mm Hg means millimeters of mercury, the height of a column of mercury, as in a blood pressure reading. (In upper-case letters, MM stands for meningomyelocele, malignant melanoma, and multiple myeloma.)
- MM
In medicine, the abbreviation for meningomyelocele (spina bifida), malignant melanoma, and multiple myeloma. (In lower case letters, mm stands for millimeter.)
- MME
Metallomembrane endopeptidase, also known as membrane metalloendopeptidase. MME is also called CALLA (Common Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia antigen) a cell surface marker for the most common form of acute lymphocytic leukemia. There is however some confusion regarding the specificity of this marker. MME is identical to neutral endopeptidase and is the target of antibodies directed against […]
- MMR
Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, a combination vaccine.
- MMWR
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a weekly scientific publication prepared and published by the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). MMWR contains data and reports on specific health and safety topics. The data are on specific diseases as reported by state and territorial health departments. The reports are on infectious and chronic […]