l l l CLINICAL TRIALS & OBSERVATIONS Comment on Micol et al, page 1445

an intimate connection? Klaus H. Metzeler UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH In this issue of Blood, Micol et al report the discovery of mutations in the additional sex combs-like 2 (ASXL2) gene in about one-quarter of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients carrying the t(8;21) translocation.1 Patients with this chromosomaltranslocation are classified as having “favorable-risk ” disease, but,60 % of them are actually cured by current treatment approaches.2 Activating mutations in the KIT gene occur in approximately one-third of patients with t(8;21) and identify a subgroup with adverse outcomes. However, even among patients with wild-type KIT, the relapse rate exceeds 30%. Expanding our knowledge about cooperating genetic event