REAL-TIME QUANTITATION OF bcr/abl TRANSCRIPTS IN LEUKEMIA WITH QUANTITATIVE RT-PCR

Objective To assess the relationship between expression of bcr/abl mRNA and the diagnosis as well as prognosis of leukemia, and the significance in the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). Methods Expression of bcr/abl gene was measured with fluorogenic probe quantitative RT-PCR(FQ-RT-PCR) in 34 cases of leukemia at different stages. Results No bcr/abl gene was revealed in the controls, while in the chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML) group the positive rate was 89.5%(17/19). Eight patients were relieved after α-interferon therapy, with an average bcr/abl gene expression of (2.43±0.67)×10 5 copies/L, while in those untreated the average expression was (2.60±0.90)×10 7 copies/L. The difference between two groups was significant ( t=3.43, P 0.01). Follow-up data were obtained in six bcr/abl positive cases, with reduced bcr/abl gene transcription but no negative transformation in two cases, and increased transcription in the other two. Conclusion Being sensitive, specific, reliable and accurate, FQ-RT-PCR assay may detect dynamic evolution of bcr/abl transcripts, and help to make the diagnosis and typing of leukemia, and to predict the existence of MRD.