title: Sensitive Replicate Real-Time Quantitative PCR of BCR-ABL Shows Deep Molecular Responses in Long-Term Post-Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients.
abstract: Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is commonly used for follow-up of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but its current sensitivity does not allow detection of very low BCR-ABL levels. Therefore RT-qPCR negativity is not synonymous with complete molecular response. Replicate RT-qPCR had shown increased sensitivity in tyrosine kinase inhibitor-treated patients and was, therefore, used here to evaluate whether RT-qPCR-negative post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) patients harbor detectable disease. Samples from 12 patients were tested at 2 time points using 82 replicates of BCR-ABL RT-qPCR. One patient (38 months after SCT) had detectable transcripts at baseline and none at the follow-up test, done at a median of 107 months after SCT. This suggests cure from CML in the majority of allogeneic SCT patients who have no transcripts detectable by replicate RT-qPCR for BCR-ABL.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: m.koren.michowitz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koren-Michowitz
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Avichai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimoni
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences of the University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daraio
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences of the University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crasto
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences of the University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorenzatti
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Yulia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Volchek
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Ninette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amariglio
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences of the University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gottardi
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences of the University of Turin, San Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saglio
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Arnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064591:Allografts; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015465:Leukemia, Myeloid, Accelerated Phase / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia; Quantitative PCR; Stem cell transplantation