[Frequency of TEL/AML1 and BCR/ABL fusion genes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].
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.
Artigas A
Carmen Gloria
CG
Banco de Tumores Temuco, Departamento Anatomía Patológica, Clínica Alemana de Temuco, Senador Estebanez 645, Temuco, Chile. btt@ufro.cl
Cabrera C
María Elena
ME
Melo A
Angélica
A
Páez F
Eduardo
E
Arriagada M
Mónica
M
Astete A
Carmen
C
Roa E
Iván
I
Roa S
Juan Carlos
JC
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
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