[The usefulness of the bcr/abl rearrangement in the diagnosis and evolution of chronic myeloid leukemia].
BACKGROUND
The rearrangement of the bcr/abl gene constitutes the molecular substrate of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph'). The aim of this study was to analyze the usefulness of bcr/abl rearrangement in the diagnosis and evolution of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).


METHODS
The rearrangement of the bcr/abl gene was studied in 81 cases of which 34 corresponded to patients with CML (29 Ph' positive chromosome, 2 Ph' negative chromosome and 3 without karyotype), 2 patients with Ph' positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 15 patients with chronic myeloproliferative syndromes different from CML and 30 controls. Of the patients with CML, 6 were reevaluated when a blastic crisis was developed, 2 after receiving interferon treatment and 1 following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The technique used was that of Southern blotting using the restriction enzymes Bgl II and BamHI and the transprobe.


RESULTS
Rearrangement of the bcr/abl gene was observed in all the patients with CML except in one with Ph' negative chromosome. In the remaining cases bcr/abl rearrangement was not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The Southern blotting technique for the study of the bcr/abl gene rearrangement is a sensitive and specific method in the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia constituting a valid alternative to chromosomic study when this cannot be carried out or is not conclusive. It may also be used for the control of treatment in chronic myeloid leukemia.
González
F A
FA
Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid.
Villegas
A
A
Ferro
M T
MT
San Román
C
C
Sáez
I
I
López
M
M
del Potro
E
E
Alvarez
A
A
Martínez
R
R
Díaz Madiavilla
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002648:Child; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D016313:Genes, abl / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D054438:Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic, Atypical, BCR-ABL Negative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm
Utilidad del reordenamiento bcr/abl en el diagnóstico y la evolución de la leucemia mieloide crónica.