[Detection of BCR-ABL gene sequences using RT-PCR in patients with leukemia in the IX region. Chile].
BACKGROUND
The BCR-ABL fusion gene is the molecular expression of the Philadelphia chromosome. This cytogenetic aberration is the most frequent alteration found in leukemias, which is produced by the translocation t(9;22). Two different fusion proteins are produced depending on the break point (210 kD and 190 kD). The detection of this gene has both diagnostic and prognostic importance, associated with poor prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).


OBJECTIVE
To detect BCR-ABL gene sequences in patients with leukemia from the IX Region of Chile.


METHODS
We studied 58 patients: 5 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 35 ALL, 15 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 3 biphenotypic leukemia. The gene sequences were detected using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
BRC-ABL gene sequences were positive in all patients with CML, 2 of 35 ALL (one child and one adult). The remaining patients were negative. We found p210 and p190 co-expression in 2 CML and 1 ALL.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are in agreement with other reports. The detection of these and other genetic alterations will allow us to have invaluable diagnostic and prognostic information from our patients with leukemia.
Departamento Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco-Chile. cgartiga@ufro.cl
Carmen Gloria
CG
Artigas
Angélica
A
Melo
Juan Carlos
JC
Roa
Eduardo
E
Páez
Cecilia
C
Vittini
Mónica
M
Arriagada
Luis
L
González
Erna
E
Pflaumer
Iván
I
Roa
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics*; D016313:Genes, abl; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl