Differential roles of Kras and Pten in murine leukemogenesis

Leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy, accounting for 30% of childhood cancer. Although the causes of leukemia are largely unknown, a few prenatal chromosomal and genetic abnormalities, such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and TEL-AML1 rearrangements, have been linked to an increased risk of childhood leukemia, and studies from twin leukemia have indicated that leukemia can be initiated in utero. Both gain-of-functional Kras mutation(s) and loss of Pten (phosphatase and tensin homolog) expression have been implicated in childhood leukemia,2, 3 albeit at a relative low frequency.