Cytogenetic analysis of a pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line (HPB-ALL) revealed the cryptic t(5;14)(q35;q32.2), recently found in 15-20% pediatric T-ALL patients, with 5q35 and 14q32.2 breakpoints at 5'-HOXIIL2 and 3'-BCLIIB, respectively. Expression of both BCLIIB, which is hematologically restricted to T cells, and HOXIIL2 was detected, whereas adjacent genes at 5q35 17) and 14q32 (VRKI, HSU88895) were not dysregulated. Apparently, t(5;14)(q35; q32.2) serves to activate HOXIIL2 by juxtaposition with elements downstream of BCLIIB, implying a novel dysregulatory mechanism comparable to TCRA/D or IGH juxtaposition. As well as providing molecular cytogenetic documentation of t(5; 14) ALL, this report validates HPB-ALL cells for investigating this important new disease entity in vitro. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.