Monitoring M-BCR-ABL expression level in CML patients by RQ-PCR: experience of a single Center

• Published in: Romanian journal of morphology and embryology Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 37 - 42
• Main Authors: Szántó, Annamária, Pap, Zsuzsanna, Benedek, I, Benedek-Lázár, Erzsébet, Köpeczi, Judit Beáta, Tunyogi, Aliz Beáta, Vasile, Kinga, Horváth, Emőke, Pávai, Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romania 2013
• Subjects: Female; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl - biosynthesis; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl - genetics; Humans; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - blood; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - genetics; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• ISSN: 1220-0522

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is characterized by the Philadelphia chromosome and the BCR-ABL fusion gene that encodes an abnormal tyrosine kinase. Development of specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors completely changed the management of these patients. Between April 2008 and July 2012, at the Molecular Biology Laboratory, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu Mures, Romania, we monitored the M-BCR-ABL transcript level by real time quantitative PCR in case of 15 CML patients diagnosed at the Hematology and Transplant Center of Targu Mures. Modification of M-BCR-ABL expression level shows statistically significant correlation (p=0.013) with the clinical course of these patients. Molecular biology techniques have an important role in monitoring CML patients and regular analysis is recommended.