Molecular measurement of minimal residual disease in Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) is found in approximately 5-25% of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cases and is the harbinger of a poor outcome. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays can detect leukaemia-specific genetic lesions down to a sensitivity approaching one leukaemia cell in a background of a million normal cells. In Ph(+) ALL, the unique BCR-ABL translocation is thus a specific target for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). After chemotherapy or transplantation the detection of residual BCR-ABL transcripts is associated with a high risk of subsequent relapse. With the advent of novel therapeutics that target the structure and function of BCR-ABL, the detection of MRD may allow for targeted therapy that could abort a potential relapse.
Radich
Jerald P
JP
Clinical Research Division, Program in Genetics and Genomics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, D4-100; 1100 Fairview Avenue, North Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
D000818:Animals; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl