title: Repeated PCR in CML during IFN-alpha therapy.
abstract: Repeated PCR analysis was performed on bone marrow and/or peripheral blood samples from 4 CML patients in complete cytogenetic remission during treatment with IFN-alpha. Two patients became PCR-negative. One was negative for the analyses carried out from the 9th to the 30th months, but reverted to PCR positivity 10 months after IFN was reduced from 1.5 x 10(6) IU/day to 1 x 10(6) IU and given on alternate days. Although the dose was again raised to 3 x 10(6) IU/day, 8 months later her peripheral blood cells were still PCR-positive, but remained persistently Ph'-negative. Another patient became PCR-negative at the 42nd month and remained so at the last analysis performed 3 months later. Two patients were persistently PCR-positive. Cytogenetic relapse was documented in both, in one while still on full therapy. Ph'-positive metaphases reappeared in the other patient 7 months after discontinuing IFN-alpha therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine and Oncology Science, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liberati
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lo Coco
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pardini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Addis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saglio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl