title: Prognostic value of real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) in AML with t(8;21).
abstract: Despite the favorable prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(8;21)(q22;q22) translocation, relapses still occur in about 30% of the cases but no initial factors can strongly predict the risk of relapse. Several recent studies suggest that monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) may identify patients at risk of relapse. We prospectively monitored AML1-ETO rearrangement by real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) in 21 patients uniformly treated in our center. Blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples were collected during and after therapy. At diagnosis, levels of AML1-ETO transcript showed large variations and there was a trend for a higher relapse rate in patients with high pretreatment expression levels (P=0.065). After induction therapy, absolute transcript levels (below 10(-3), compared to Kasumi cell line), or a greater than 3 log decrease by comparison to diagnosis levels, were significant predictors of the absence of relapse (P=0.02 and P=0.02, respectively). MRD levels after consolidation therapy were also significant indicators of relapse (P=10(-5)). Comparison of BM and PB samples showed similar sensitivity for detecting AML1-ETO transcript. In conclusion, RQ-PCR appears to be an early predictive factor of the relapse risk in AML with t(8;21). PB samples can be used adequately to evaluate the level of MRD by this technique.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Hôpital Calmette, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Botton
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grardel-Duflos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darre
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Leleu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roumier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morschhauser
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fenaux
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Preudhomme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / Q000235:genetics*; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 / Q000235:genetics*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents