title: [Frequency of TEL/AML1 and BCR/ABL fusion genes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  t(12;21) (p12;q22) and t(9;22) (q34;q11) translocations have prognostic significance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The fusion genes TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL, generated by these translocations, can be easily detected using molecular biology technique.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the frequency of TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL fusion genes in children with ALL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six children with ALL (age range 1 month- 14 years) were studied, thirty-eight from our Temuco Hospital and 18 from the Metropolitan Region. TEL/AML1 y BCR/ABL fusion genes were detected in bone marrow samples using a reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TEL/AML 1 and BCR/ABL fusion gene transcripts were detected in 13 (23%) and 2 (4%) children, respectively. No differences in survival were observed between children with positive or negative transcripts for TEL/AML1 fusion gene. However, those positive for BCR/ABL fusion gene, had a significantly lower survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of TEL/AML1 and BCR/ABL fusion gene transcripts in these children with ALL is similar to that described by other authors.
authors.affiliation: Banco de Tumores Temuco, Departamento Anatomía Patológica, Clínica Alemana de Temuco, Senador Estebanez 645, Temuco, Chile. btt@ufro.cl
authors.forename: Carmen Gloria
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Artigas A
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cabrera C
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melo A
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Páez F
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arriagada M
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Astete A
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roa E
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Roa S
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D000097764:ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein
chemical_list: D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C102421:TEL-AML1 fusion protein; D000097764:ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein