Detection of minimal residual bcr/abl transcripts by a modified polymerase
chain reaction
MS Lee, KS Chang, EJ Freireich, HM Kantarjian, M Talpaz, JM Trujillo and SA Stass
Division of Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas System Cancer Center,
Houston 77030.
The Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
involves reciprocal translocation of the bcr gene and the c-abl oncogene.
The fused bcr/abl gene is transcribed into two types of chimeric mRNA. By
means of a combined method of S1 nuclease protection and polymerase chain
reaction, we amplified sequences representative of the chimeric bcr/abl
transcripts. Only 5 micrograms of total cellular RNA is needed and the
chimeric bcr/abl message can be detected at a dilution of 1:100,000. We
also detected residual chimeric bcr/abl transcripts in the remission
samples from two Ph1-positive CML patients. This technique has the
potential to identify a subpopulation of Ph1-positive CML patients in
remission who are at high risk of relapse.
Volume 72,
Issue 3,
pp. 893-897,
09/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
