Detection of FUS-ERG chimeric transcript in two cases of acute myeloid leukemia with t(16;21)(p11.2;q22) with unusual characteristics.

Reciprocal t(16;21)(p11;q22) is a rare chromosomal abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The chimeric transcript FUS-ERG formed by this translocation which causes the replacement of RNA-binding domain of FUS (alias TLS) with the DNA-binding domain of ERG, and this event is thought to be responsible for leukemogenesis. Here we report two cases of AML with t(16;21)(p11.2;q22) showing unusual characteristics, and address the clinical, hematological, and molecular aspects of leukemia with t(16;21), along with a review of the literature.