Molecular evaluation of residual disease as a predictor of relapse in acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is characterised by a unique fusion transcript, PML/RAR alpha. We tested for this transcript in 35 APL patients who were in apparent remission after various treatments. 11 of 13 patients who tested positive 4 months after achieving remission were in relapse 1-4 months later. All 22 patients who tested negative at 4 months were disease-free after a further 3 months to five years. The test may therefore prove useful in determining the need for additional treatment during clinical remission.
University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
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D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D014212:Tretinoin