Atypical BCR-ABL mRNA transcripts in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
RT-PCR detects chimeric BCR-ABL mRNA in approximately 25% of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. Minor breakpoint transcripts (e1a2) are found in about 70% of positive cases and major breakpoint transcripts (e13a2, e14a2) in about 30% of cases. However, other atypical transcripts are sometimes observed. We report experience gained in the GMALL Study Group and identified 8 BCR-ABL-positive adult ALL cases with such atypical transcripts: 5 with e1a3, 2 with e13a3 (b2a3), and 1 with e6a2. This corresponds to a prevalence of 1-2% of all BCR-ABL-positive cases. The clinical courses are reported and diagnostic proposals are made.
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus, Benjamin Franklin, Medizinische Klinik III, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. thomas.burmeister@charite.de
Thomas
T
Burmeister
Stefan
S
Schwartz
Almut
A
Taubald
Edgar
E
Jost
Thomas
T
Lipp
Folker
F
Schneller
Helmut
H
Diedrich
Henrike
H
Thomssen
Ulrich J M
UJ
Mey
Jan
J
Eucker
Harald
H
Rieder
Nicola
N
Gökbuget
Dieter
D
Hoelzer
Eckhard
E
Thiel
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl