MDS1 and EVI1 Complex Locus Protein (MECOM), a potent proto-oncogene known to be involved in stem cell self-renewal and leukaemogenesis physically interacts with the SUV39H1 histone methyltransferase and has been implicated in disease progression of AML in around 5% of cases and its expression negatively correlates with survival in AML. This evidence concerns the gene SUV39H1 and acute myeloid leukemia.