Thus, our observations suggest that AML1-ETO and its splice variant AML1-ETO9a are able to regulate the expression of the CD44 gene, linking the 8;21 translocation to the regulation of a cell adhesion molecule that is involved in the growth and maintenance of the AML blast/stem cells..     ///    "Furthermore, the CD44 promoter is bound by AML1-ETO9a and AML1-ETO at the chromatin level. "