Changes in the number and structure of chromosome 10 are associated with several types of cancer. For example, a loss of all or part of chromosome 10 is often found in brain tumors called gliomas, particularly in aggressive, fast-growing gliomas. The association of cancerous tumors with a loss of chromosome 10 suggests that some genes on this chromosome play critical roles in controlling the growth and division of cells. Without these genes, cells could grow and divide too quickly or in an uncontrolled way, resulting in cancer. Researchers are working to identify the specific genes on chromosome 10 that may be involved in the development and progression of gliomas.
A complex rearrangement (translocation) of genetic material between chromosomes 10 and 11 is associated with several types of blood cancer known as leukemias. This chromosomal abnormality is found only in cancer cells. It fuses part of a specific gene from chromosome 11 (the MLL gene) with part of another gene from chromosome 10 (the MLLT10 gene). The abnormal protein produced from this fused gene signals cells to divide without control or order, leading to the development of cancer.