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.
Burmeister
Thomas
T
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus, Benjamin Franklin, Medizinische Klinik III, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. thomas.burmeister@charite.de
Schwartz
Stefan
S
Taubald
Almut
A
Jost
Edgar
E
Lipp
Thomas
T
Schneller
Folker
F
Diedrich
Helmut
H
Thomssen
Henrike
H
Mey
Ulrich J M
UJ
Eucker
Jan
J
Rieder
Harald
H
Gökbuget
Nicola
N
Hoelzer
Dieter
D
Thiel
Eckhard
E
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