[Disappearance of residual disease confirmed by RT-PCR following induction chemotherapy in two hypoplastic leukemia patients with t(8;21)].
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods often detect the AML1/MTG8 fusion transcript even in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients with t(8;21) who have been in long-term remission. We encountered 2 hypoplastic leukemia patients with t(8;21) who achieved cytogenetic remission with short-term conventional chemotherapy. Patient 1 was a 42-year-old woman. Chromosomal analysis detected t(8;21) (q22;q22) and PCR analysis (35 cycles PCR amplification; detection limit 1 x 10(-5) cells) detected the AML1/MTG8 fusion transcript. Complete remission was obtained with 1 course of chemotherapy consisting of low-dose cytarabine (20 mg x 14 days) and etoposide (50 mg x 14 days). After 2 courses of consolidation chemotherapy consisting of conventional-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone, the RT-PCR findings were negative for the AML1/MTG8 fusion transcript. Patient 2 was a 67-year-old man. Cytogenetic analysis detected t(8;21) (q22;q22), and was positive for the AML1/MTG8 fusion transcript. After 2 courses of induction chemotherapy comprising low-dose cytarabine (20 mg x 14 days) and etoposide (50 mg x 14 days), and 3 courses of conventional consolidation chemotherapy, RT-PCR analysis confirmed the disappearance of the AML1/MTG8 fusion transcript.
Sawada
M
M
First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine.
Tsurumi
H
H
Yamada
T
T
Hara
T
T
Oyama
M
M
Moriwaki
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D012074:Remission Induction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic