DNA sequence of the translocation breakpoints in undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma arising in mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver harboring the t(11;19)(q11;q13.4) translocation

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver is a highly malignant and aggressive tumor that occasionally arises within mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver (MHL), a benign tumor that typically occurs in young children. Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma arising in MHL, as well as uncomplicated MHL, frequently harbor rearrangements of band 19q13.4, including the translocation t(11; 19)(q13;q 13.4). In this study we report the cloning and DNA sequence analysis of the translocation breakpoints 11 q13 occurred in the MALATI gene, also known as ALPHA. MALATI is rearranged in renal tumors harboring the t(6; 11)(p21;q 13) translocation, and noncoding MALATI transcripts are overexpressed in a number of human carcinomas. The breakpoint at 19q 13.4 occurs at a locus we refer to as MHLBI, for Mesenchymal Hamartoma of the Liver Breakpoint I. Although the MHLBI locus does not contain a known gene, several human ESTs map to the region (a subset of which show homology to the nuclear RNA export factor (NXF) gene family), and the region is conserved between many mammalian species. (c) 2007Wiley-Liss, Inc.