Targeted Rna Sequencing Assay Efficiently Identifies Cryptic Kmt2a (Mll)-Fusions In Acute Leukemia Patients

The KMT2A gene is rearranged in pediatric and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). By fusing with a number of different partner genes, the KMT2A gene generates chimeric proteins with oncogenic abilities. Due to the promiscuity of the gene, routine genetic analysis of KMT2A-rearranged leukemia is time-consuming as it often involves chromosome and FISH analyses, RT-PCR or southern blot. We have thus developed a captured-based next generation sequencing approach to detect KMT2A fusion genes, especially useful when routine methods indicate a rearrangement but cannot identify the specific fusion partner.