Detection of BCR-ABL transcripts in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Indian patients.
Thirty-three patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from India were studied for the presence of BCR-ABL chimeric transcripts, by a seminested cDNA-PCR. We report the presence of BCR-ABL chimeric transcripts in 4/17 (24%) children (under 15 years) and 3/16 (19%) adults (15-50 years). This is in sharp contrast to the published literature from the West where the presence of BCR-ABL has been reported in only 2-5% children and 35% adults. Whether the presence of BCR-ABL fusion mRNA, which is generally an attribute of ALL in adults and of poorer prognosis, may contribute to chemo-incurability in young Indian patients, remains to be seen, as a larger number of patients are studied for treatment outcome and survival on uniform therapy protocols.
Gurbuxani
S
S
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi.
Lacorte
J M
JM
Raina
V
V
Arya
L S
LS
Pepin
D
D
Sazawal
S
S
Marie
J P
JP
Bhargava
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016313:Genes, abl; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl