Minimal residual disease monitoring in chronic myeloid leukemia patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR.
OBJECTIVE
Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RQ-PCR) are the common methods for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. This study was to assess the value of monitoring BCR-ABL fusion gene level in CML patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) using FISH and RQ-PCR.


METHODS
BCR-ABL fusion gene levels were detected in the bone marrow of 31 patients with CML before and 3-48 months after allo-HSCT using FISH and RQ-PCR.


RESULTS
BCR-ABL positive cells detected by FISH were decreased 3-30 months after allo-HSCT and BCR-ABL/ABL mRNA was reduced by 2 logarithmic units in RQ-PCR (P < 0.05). While no BCR-ABL positive cell was detected by FISH 30 months after allo-HSCT, BCR-ABL/ABL mRNA was detected by RQ-PCR and declined by more than 3 logarithmic units, (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic monitoring of BCR-ABL gene on molecular level in CML patients after allo-HSCT is useful in the early prediction of susceptibility to recurrence in the patients and in designing intervention, and is thus helpful in improving the overall survival rate after transplantation.
Zhu
Hong-Qian
HQ
Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, PR China.
Liu
Xiao-Li
XL
Song
Lan-Lin
LL
Liu
Qi-Fa
QF
Meng
Fan-Yi
FY
Zhou
Shu-Yun
SY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl