Detection of PML-RAR alpha in patients with APL during follow-up period.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the significance of PML-RAR alpha transcripts in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) during remission period and to follow up the patients through monitoring aberrant gene expression.


METHODS
This study included 17 patients with APL (5 females and 12 males). Another 19 APL patients during relapse served as control. RNA extraction was obtained through the single-step method. By means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the PML-RAR alpha was detected in the sample mRNA.


RESULTS
Nine out of 10 patients with complete remission (CR) duration shorter than 3 years were positive. Four cases became negative and three remained positive among 7 cases in a long remission of over 3 years. The difference of the positive rate of PML-RAR alpha transcripts between the 2 groups was significant (P < 0.05). Four among 12 positive cases relapsed. No evidence of relapse was present in the 5 negative patients after 9.6 +/- 3.9-month follow-up. Further treatment was therefore given to the 4 positive patients whose treatment was already ceased at that time. By this management they were all in CR during the following 10-month observation.


CONCLUSIONS
RT-PCR detection for PML-RAR alpha transcripts was useful in monitoring MRD and guiding further treatment to obtain a long remission. Persistently positive transcripts were closely associated with the relapse.
Wu
X
X
Biochemistry Department, Shanghai Medical University.
Lin
J
J
Yang
Z
Z
Wang
X
X
Qian
X
X
Ying
J
J
Yu
Y
Y
Qin
S
S
Lou
J
J
Yao
H
H
Chen
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D012008:Recurrence; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
C000607071:RARA protein, human; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha