title: Quantification of the breakpoint cluster region rearrangement for clinical monitoring in Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: The purpose of this report was to evaluate scintigraphy analysis of Southern blot hybridization as a method to quantify the breakpoint cluster region (BCR) rearrangement of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)+ chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Cytogenetic and molecular studies performed simultaneously on 474 bone marrow and/or blood samples from 300 patients treated with alpha-interferon-based therapy were compared. Molecular results were expressed as the percentage of rearranged BCR bands versus the total scintigraphic signal. The percentage of Ph+ metaphases was calculated on 25 metaphases. The results of molecular studies obtained on both peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were identical. The rank correlation between the BCR quantification and the percentage of Ph positivity in 465 samples was excellent (r = .78). However, of 99 samples with a normal karyotype, 24% had a BCR rearrangement. Of 86 samples with no BCR rearrangement, 13% showed a Ph chromosome. Of 49 samples with partial cytogenetic remission (Ph+ metaphases, 1% to 34%), 23% had no BCR rearrangement. In samples with a minor or no cytogenetic response (Ph+ metaphases, > 34%), BCR analysis overestimated the degree of response in 73 of 326 samples (22%). Nevertheless, survival analysis by BCR quantification level showed statistically better outcome for patients in complete or partial molecular response (P < .01). Molecular quantification of BCR was useful in monitoring the course of Ph+ CML. This method, which can be used on peripheral blood, detected residual disease not shown by cytogenetic analysis and was prognostically relevant as a measure of disease suppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Verschraegen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talpaz
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hirsch-Ginsberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pherwani
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stass
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051562:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C496613:BCR protein, human; D051562:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr