title: Competitive PCR for quantification of minimal residual disease in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
abstract: A very precise and reproducible polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed in order to quantify minimal residual disease (MRD) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). A clone-specific competitor was constructed by introducing a restriction site in a PCR product identical to parts of the highly specific rearranged T-cell receptor delta (TCR-delta), T-cell receptor gamma (TCR-gamma), or immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) genes of the malignant clone. Using primers located externally to the restriction site the competitor and the DNA from the malignant clone will be amplified under identical conditions. After restriction enzyme cleavage, the PCR products originating from the competitor and the malignant clone can be distinguished by size in a gel electrophoresis step and the amount of residual disease can be determined. The method is very sensitive with a detection limit of at least one malignant cell in 10(5) normal cells. This method may be used for treatment stratification based on the early response to antileukaemic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, The National University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Tagensvej 20, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark. charlotn@biobase.dk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nyvold
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seyfarth
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svejgaard
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wesenberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmiegelow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains