Harmonization of molecular monitoring of CML therapy in Europe

• Published in: Leukemia Vol. 23; no. 11; pp. 1957 - 1963
• Main Authors: Müller, M C, Cross, N C P, Erben, P, Schenk, T, Hanfstein, B, Ernst, T, Hehlmann, R, Branford, S, Saglio, G, Hochhaus, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.11.2009; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; BCR protein; Benzamides; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer Research; Care and treatment; Cellular signal transduction; Chromosome aberrations; Chronic myeloid leukemia; Critical Care Medicine; Cytogenetics; Drug Monitoring - methods; Drug Monitoring - trends; Europe; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl - genetics; Genetic Testing - methods; Genetic Testing - trends; Health aspects; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematology; Humans; Imatinib; Imatinib Mesylate; Intensive; Internal Medicine; Kinases; Laboratories; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - drug therapy; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - genetics; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Medical genetics; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Myeloid leukemia; Oncology; Piperazines - therapeutic use; Pyrimidines - therapeutic use; Remission; Signal transduction; spotlight-review; Europe; Germany; BCR–ABL; EUTOS for CML; chronic myeloid leukemia; international scale; conversion factor; molecular monitoring; Chromosomal aberration; Non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase; Harmonization; Myeloproliferative syndrome; Abnormal chromosome C9; Abnormal chromosome G22; Hybrid gene; International; Chromosome translocation; Hematology; Enzyme; Transferases; BCR-ABL; Chronic myelogenous leukemia; Malignant hemopathy; Conversion; Philadelphia chromosome; Chronic; Treatment; bcr gene; Surveillance; C-Onc gene; chronic mveloid leukemia; Abnormal chromosome; Cancer
• ISSN: 0887-6924; 1476-5551
• DOI: 10.1038/leu.2009.168

The high efficacy of the standard treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with imatinib has prompted the need for accurate methods to monitor response at levels below the landmark of complete cytogenetic remission. Quantification of BCR–ABL transcripts has proven to be the most sensitive method available, and has shown prognostic impact with regard to progression-free survival. Until recently, variations in methods used to quantify BCR–ABL made it difficult to compare results between laboratories. An international program is now underway to harmonize the reporting of results according to an international scale (IS). In this review, we consider the background to the IS and the progress that has been made to date, with a particular focus on ongoing harmonization efforts in Europe. We provide recommendations for the propagation of the IS by national or regional laboratory networks.