title: Quantitative RT-PCR of Wilms tumor gene transcripts (WT1) for the molecular monitoring of patients with accelerated phase bcr/abl + CML.
abstract: The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib inhibits the activity of the bcr/abl fusion protein present in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Although in chronic phase patients response to therapy can be monitored by quantitative RT-PCR for bcr/abl mRNA transcripts, in advanced disease (accelerated phase or blast crisis) only few patients respond on a molecular level. We investigated Wilms tumor gene (WT1) and bcr/abl mRNA transcripts in 16 accelerated phase CML patients by quantitative real time PCR. In contrast to the bcr/abl mRNA levels the WT1 mRNA levels were indicative for hematologic relapse (n = 6) versus response (n = 10).
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik m.S. Hämatologie und Onkologie, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Il-Kang
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Karl-Anton
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kreuzer
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lupberger
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dörken
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: le Coutre
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl