NPM Mutations in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Nucleophosmin (NPM) is a multifunctional phosphoprotein to which both tumor-suppressor and oncogenic functions have been attributed. Chromosomal translocations involving the NPM1 gene occur not infrequently in myeloid and lymphoid cancers. The NPM1 gene rearranges with the retinoic acid receptor α ( RAR α) gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia and with the anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( ALK ) gene in a high percentage of anaplastic large-cell lymphomas. Rearrangements with the myeloid leukemia factor 1 ( MLF1 ) gene occur in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia, and myelodysplasia. 1 – 3 As a consequence of these translocations, the rearranged NPM1 allele encodes . . .