title: Real-time RT-PCR for the detection and quantification of AML1/MTG8 fusion transcripts in t(8;21)-positive AML patients.
abstract: AML1/MTG8 was quantified relative to the expression of the GAPDH housekeeping gene by real-time RT-PCR in 22 patients with t(8;21)-positive acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) at initial diagnosis and in seven of these patients also during/after chemotherapy and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Real-time PCR was able to specifically detect and quantify AML1/MTG8 over a 5 log range. The detection limit for t(8;21)-positive cells was a dilution of 1:105. The AML1/MTG8 expression varied considerably among the 22 AML patients at intial diagnosis with a ratio AML1/MTG8:GAPDH of 0.5135+/-0.536 (range 0.1-2.14, median 0.318). In six patients with t(8;21)-positive AML a marked decline of AML1/MTG8 could be induced by chemotherapy. These patients are in ongoing complete haematological remission (CR) with a constant low-level AML1/MTG8 expression. In another patient a rapid rise of AML1/MTG8 transcripts could be detected in CR after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and the patient relapsed 10 weeks later. In conclusion, real-time RT-PCR is a suitable approach for the quantification of AML1/MTG8 transcripts in the monitoring of AML patients with t(8;21) during/after chemotherapy and can provide data of prognostic relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Germany. krauter.juergen@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krauter
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Wattjes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Heidenreich
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krug
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kafert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bunjes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heil
mesh_terms: D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / Q000235:genetics*; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 / Q000235:genetics*; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000075142:RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000075142:RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; C493728:RUNX1 protein, human; C082222:RUNX1T1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors