Long-term culture and molecular biological studies highlight differences in relative BCR-ABL expression levels in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of a patient with chronic granulocytic leukaemia.
A patient with accelerating Ph+ve chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) was considered for autologous BMT using marrow 'purged' by 4 weeks long-term culture (LTC). Efficacy of purging was determined using reverse transcriptase PCR for BCR-ABL mRNA transcripts b2a2 and b3a2. Peripheral blood and bone marrow were compared. Three observations emerged: (i) the initial b2a2:b3a2 ratios for unmanipulated blood and marrow were different with values of 9:1 and 2:1 respectively; (ii) both transcripts were successfully 'purged' with LTC of blood but not marrow; and (iii) LTC of marrow caused a transient increase in relative levels of b3a2 mRNA and a corresponding reduction in the b2a2 signal. This is the first case where such differences have been demonstrated in association with LTC.
Smith
M A
MA
Department of Haematology, Royal United Hospital Trust, Bath.
Mills
K I
KI
Smith
J G
JG
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism*; D016465:Bone Marrow Purging / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015466:Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl