Differential molecular response of the transcripts B2A2 and B3A2 to imatinib mesylate in chronic myeloid leukemia.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) originates from the hematopoietic stem cell and is characterized by the reciprocal translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11), which results in the BCR-ABL fusion gene on chromosome 22q-, also known as the Philadelphia chromosome. This chimeric gene codes for a cytoplasmic protein with constitutive tyrosine-kinase activity, responsible for cellular transformation and leukemogenesis in CML. The aim of this observational cohort study was to discriminate and quantify BCR-ABL transcripts in the peripheral blood of patients with CML who were treated with imatinib mesylate (Glivec, Novartis). Twenty-two patients were followed for six months during treatment. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction was performed before treatment and after 3 and 6 months from treatment initiation. As compared with the third month, there was a significant decrease in BCR-ABL expression in the sixth month of treatment (P = 0.0002). At the sixth month, there was a significant difference in the levels of the two major transcripts of BCR-ABL, B2A2 and B3A2 (P = 0.0347), indicating that B2A2 may be more sensitive to imatinib. The results of our study indicate that imatinib is able to modify the natural history of CML, and raise the hypothesis that patients who express the B2A2 transcript may have a better prognosis.
Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Pará, Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Pará, Brasil. lemos@ufpa.br
José Alexandre Rodrigues
JA
de Lemos
Ciane Martins
CM
de Oliveira
Ana Carolina Costa
AC
Scerni
Alessandra Q
AQ
Bentes
Ana Cristina
AC
Beltrão
Iê Regina G
IR
Bentes
Tereza Cristina
TC
Azevedo
Luciana Maria Cunha
LM
Maradei-Pereira
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl