Detection and quantification of CBFB/MYH11 fusion transcripts in patients with inv(16)-positive acute myeloblastic leukemia by real-time RT-PCR.
We used a newly established real-time RT-PCR assay for the quantification of the leukemia-specific CBFB/MYH11 transcripts in inv(16)-positive acute myeloblastic leukemia. CBFB/MYH11 could be quantified over a five log range, with a detection limit of 10 molecules of a CBFB/MYH11 plasmid and a 1:10(5) dilution of RNA of the inv(16)-positive ME-1 cell line, respectively. The fusion transcripts were also quantified in 19 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia and an inv(16) at initial diagnosis. The expression of CBFB/MYH11 varied over a two log range without correlation to clinical response or relapse rate. In nine patients, CBFB/MYH11 was also quantified during/after chemotherapy and autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. All of these patients showed a similar decline of CBFB/MYH11 after intensive therapy. Six of these patients are in complete remission with a stable low-level or absent CBFB/MYH11 expression. Three patients relapsed, and their CBFB/MYH11 transcripts rose again to pretreatment levels. In two patients, this increase in CBFB/MYH11 could be detected by real-time PCR before hematological relapse. These data indicate that real-time RT-PCR can be used for the sensitive detection and quantification of CBFB/MYH11 transcripts in the follow-up of patients with inv(16)-positive AML.
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. krauter.juergen@mh-hannover.de
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J
Krauter
W
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Hoellge
M P
MP
Wattjes
S
S
Nagel
O
O
Heidenreich
D
D
Bunjes
A
A
Ganser
G
G
Heil
D007446:Chromosome Inversion; D002885:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000592:standards; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
C095514:CBFbeta-MYH11 fusion protein; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D012333:RNA, Messenger