Characterization of the C-MYC Amplicon in a Case of Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Double Minute Chromosomes

We have characterized the double minute chromosomes in a case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Southern blot analysis showed that the C-MYC was amplified. Further analysis with probes located both 3′ and 5′ of MYC indicated that the amplicon was at least 700 kb in size, extending from the papilloma virus integration site situated 500 kb 5′ of MYC to the PVT gene located 280 kb 3′ of MYC. This appears to be the largest MYC-containing amplicon in human leukemia.