title: Minimal residual core binding factor AMLs by real time quantitative PCR--initial response to chemotherapy predicts event free survival and close monitoring of peripheral blood unravels the kinetics of relapse.
abstract: Minimal residual disease (MRD) was measured by RQ-PCR in 11 AML1/ETO and 13 CBFbeta/MYH11 patients at diagnosis, after induction chemotherapy, and at all subsequent visits. Median detection limits were 1:50,000 and 1:10,000, respectively. In 64/103 samples MRD was detectable and highly correlated in PB and BM. In 38/103 samples, where MRD was only detectable in BM, median BM MRD was 3.5log lower than at diagnosis. Event free survival was significantly inferior in case of <2log reduction post-induction MRD. Persistent MRD was always followed by hematological relapse. Molecular progression rate in relapsing CBFbeta/MYH11 was surprisingly slow with a time lag to hematological relapse approaching 1 year. This direct comparison between the two subgroups of CBF AMLs delineates clear biological differences and corroborates the value of RQ-PCR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Aarhus University Hospital, Tage-Hansens Gade 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Stentoft.haem.aarhus@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stentoft
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hokland
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostergaard
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasle
authors.forename: Charlotte Guldborg
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Nyvold
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents