Key factor in the onset of acute erythroleukaemia in children identified

Curing acute myeloid leukaemia remains a challenge. This is particularly true of rare, highly aggressive forms such as erythroleukaemia. To better understand the biology of this rare form of leukaemia, researchers led by Prof. Jürg Schwaller at the UKBB investigated a specific genetic alteration that leads to the formation of unique fusion genes and proteins found exclusively in the paediatric form of erythroleukaemia. They have shown that a specific fusion blocks the maturation of blood cells and, together with another mutation, triggers erythroleukaemia. The Wilhelm Sander Foundation provided €170,000 in funding. Published in the journal *Blood*.