[Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in monitoring BCR/ABL transcript levels in chronic myeloid leukemia patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To monitor the gene expression of BCR/ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation with real-time RT-PCR for evaluating therapeutic efficacy and guiding further treatment.


METHODS
Taqman real-time RT-PCR technique was performed to monitor peripheral blood BCR/ABL transcript levels in 10 patients at the time of diagnosis and serially at intervals in 25 patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation. beta-actin mRNA was used as an endogenous reference.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of real-time RT-PCR was 10 copies/microl. In 15 patients receiving transplantation, the median of N(BCR/ABL) (%) before transplantation, 1 month after transplantation and 2 months after transplantation was respectively: 6.57 (0.14 - 38.83), 0.10 (0 - 1.71) and 0 (0 - 0.52). 3 months later N(BCR/ABL) (%) all turned to 0. BCR/ABL transcripts after transplantation were detected to decrease gradually. N(BCR/ABL) (%) 1 month after transplantation and 2 months after transplantation was both lower than that before transplantation (chi(2) both = 13.07, P < 0.01). N(BCR/ABL) (%) at 2 months after transplantation was lower than that at 1 month after transplantation (chi(2) = 8.10, P < 0.01). In 10 other patients, N(BCR/ABL) (%) was 0 in consecutive tests from 3 to 43 months after transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Real-time RT-PCR is sensitive, reliable and reproducible for monitoring CML relapse after transplantation. It is of help in detecting minimal residual disease, predicting the prognosis of the disease and providing practical indications for further treatment.
Tang
Bao-lin
BL
Department of Hematology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, being Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China.
Cheng
Min
M
Liu
Hui-lan
HL
Geng
Liang-quan
LQ
Wu
Zhen-tian
ZT
Sun
Zi-min
ZM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl