title: Simple multiplex RT-PCR for identifying common fusion BCR-ABL transcript types and evaluation of molecular response of the a2b2 and a2b3 transcripts to Imatinib resistance in north Indian chronic myeloid leukemia patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the Philadelphia chromosome, an abnormally shortened chromosome 22. It is the result of a reciprocal translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22, creating BCR-ABL fusion transcripts, b3a2, b2a2, and e1a2. The aim of our study was to determine the type of BCR-ABL fusion transcripts for molecular diagnosis and investigate the frequency of BCR-ABL fusion transcripts in CML patients by multiplex RT-PCR in CML.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single reaction with multiple primers multiplex PCR was used to detect and investigate the type and frequency in 200 CML patients among which 116, 33, and 51 were in CP, AP, and BC phase, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 200 CML patients, among whom breakpoints in b3a2, b2a2 transcripts were detected in 68% and 24%, respectively, while 8% of the patients showed both b3a2/b2a2. A statistically significant difference was seen between frequency of BCR-ABL fusion transcripts and gender (P = 0.03), molecular response (P = 0.04), and hematological response (P = 0.05). However, there was no correlation found between frequencies of BCR-/ABL fusion transcripts and other clinicopathological parameters like age, type of therapy, thrombocytopenia, and white blood cell count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction is useful and saves time in the detection of BCR-ABL variants; the occurrence of these transcripts associated with CML can assist in prognosis and treatment of disease.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Javid
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuberi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shazia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masroor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guru
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Cancer Genetics Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saxena
mesh_terms: D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007194:India; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl