title: RQ-PCR based WT1 expression in comparison to BCR-ABL quantification can predict Philadelphia negative clonal evolution in patients with imatinib-treated chronic myeloid leukaemia.
abstract: A retrospective comparison of WT1 and BCR-ABL1 expression was performed in 40 imatinib-treated chronic myeloid leukaemia patients. The overall correlation of WT1 and BCR-ABL1 was low. In two patients WT1 expression was increasing despite very low BCR-ABL1 levels. As both revealed Ph-negative aberrant clones, a second independent cohort of 20 cases, all with Ph-negative clonal evolution, was analysed. High WT1 expression (5.0-177.0%) was detected in a case with +11 and in four of eight cases with +8, but not in cases with del(20q) or -Y. Thus, increasing WT1 levels in molecular responders may indicate Ph-negative clonal cytogenetic evolution during imatinib treatment.
authors.affiliation: MLL Munich Leukaemia Laboratory GmbH, Munich, Germany. susanne.schnittger@mll-online.com
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schnittger
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bacher
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tschulik
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haferlach
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haferlach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl