Complete cytogenetic conversion in chronic myelocytic leukemia patients undergoing interferon alpha therapy: follow-up with reverse polymerase chain reaction.
Fifteen chronic myelocytic leukemia patients in durable complete cytogenetic conversion (CCC) under interferon therapy, were monitored every three to six months by bone marrow (BM) karyotypes and/or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes (by a nested primer approach using two rounds of amplification, 30 cycles each). Special care was taken to minimize the risk of contamination. The median time of follow-up after first CCC was 12 months (range, 6-30). Thirty five BM karyotypes were performed. Only three patients demonstrated the transient reappearance of a few Philadelphia-positive metaphases, while other patients remained in CCC. Forty five PB samples were studied by RT-PCR. In two patients, no BCR/ABL transcript could be detected in three consecutive samples. In the 13 other cases, RT-PCR was intermittently negative, indicating a level of residual leukemic cells close to the threshold of sensitivity of the technique.
Bilhou-Nabera
C
C
Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
Viard
F
F
Marit
G
G
Gharbi
M J
MJ
Salzes
S
S
Reiffers
J
J
Broustet
A
A
Bernard
P
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012074:Remission Induction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl