Loss of the TEL/ETV6 gene by a second translocation in ALL patients with t(12;21)

Inactivation of the non translocated TEL/ETV6 gene is commonly associated with translocation (12;21) of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Translocations involving the short arm of chromosome 12 were analysed in two children with t(12;21) ALL. Fluorescence in situ hybridation studies showed that these associated translocations resulted in loss of TEL/ETV6. While hybridization with a YAC probe covering TEL/ETV6 was positive in one patient, analysis with cosmid probes covering the gene demonstrated that the gene was in fact deleted. It is concluded that deletions involving TEL/ETV6 can remain undetected by FISH using only YAC probes.