Relevance of RUNX1/ETO for Leukaemic Propagation in vivo

The t(8;21) translocation generates the RUNX1/ETO fusion protein, which predisposes to acute myeloid leukaemia. However, it is still unclear whether secondary mutations affect its significance for in vivo maintenance of leukaemia. We have addressed this question by using an inducible RUNX1/ETO target knockdown approach in combination with xenotransplantation of immunodeficient mice. t(8;21) positive SKNO-1 transduced with doxycycline-inducible lentiviral vectors encoding shRNA followed by clonal selection and either competitive cell culture or competitive transplantation into immunodeficient Rag2-/- γc-/- mice w…