ATM Deletion

The ATM gene is an important checkpoint gene involved in cell damage management and its function is to assess the level of DNA damage that the cell has received and to attempt repair it. The gene is frequently deleted in cases of B-CLL, allowing damaged cells to proliferate. Deletions of ATM and P53 are the most serious rearrangements involved in CLL and detection of deletions of these genes provides very important information as to the therapy choices for such patients especially since deletions of ATM provide a poor prognosis.