Monitoring the AML1/ETO fusion transcript to predict outcome in childhood acute myeloid leukemia.

To determine the prognostic significance of the detection of the minimal residual disease (MRD) in children with AML1/ETO AML, we compared the results of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR). Between January 2006 and February 2013, 70 patients (≤16 years of age) with AML1/ETO AML were included in our study. Bone marrow samples were evaluated using by both RT-PCR and RQ-PCR assays. AML1/ETO transcripts were normalized to 10(5) ABL copies. When treated with fewer than four courses of therapy, no association was found between positive RT-PCR results and relapse. After four courses of therapy, a positive RT-PCR result was correlated with a probability of relapse. After induction chemotherapy, a >1.8 log reduction in AML1/ETO transcripts in BM determined by RQ-PCR may represent a subgroup of patients at low risk for relapse. MRD levels after consolidation (Courses 2 and 3) were also informative. Both RT-PCR and RQ-PCR can be used to detect MRD in childhood AML1/ETO AML. RQ-PCR can identify patients who are at high risk of relapse earlier than can RT-PCR.

Zhang L ，Cao Z ，Ruan M ，Zeng Q ，Zhao L ，Li Q ，Zou Y ，Wang J ，Zhu X ... -  《-》

Monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RQ-RT-PCR) in childhood acute myeloid leukemia with AML1/ETO rearrangement.

Viehmann S ，Teigler-Schlegel A ，Bruch J ，Langebrake C ，Reinhardt D ，Harbott J ... -  《LEUKEMIA》

Quantification of AML1-ETO fusion transcript as a prognostic indicator in acute myeloid leukemia.

Yoo SJ ，Chi HS ，Jang S ，Seo EJ ，Seo JJ ，Lee JH ，Park HS ，Park CJ ... -  《-》

[Detection of aml-1/eto fusion gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia by real-time quantitative RT-PCR].

Jiang YM ，Yuan H ，Liu XY ，Wang B ，Li SJ ，Wang N ... -  《-》

Slower molecular response to treatment predicts poor outcome in patients with TEL/AML1 positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: prospective real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction study.

The translocation t(12;21)(p13;q22), which produces the TEL/AML1 fusion gene, is the most frequent chromosomal abnormality in patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and generally is associated with a favorable prognosis. Furthermore, real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR)-based detection of TEL/AML1 represents an accurate technique for the reproducible assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD). The authors employed RQ-reverse transcriptase-PCR (RQ-RT-PCR) technology to analyze MRD levels in 57 newly diagnosed patients with TEL/AML1 positive ALL in a prospective study. On Day + 33, a particularly important time point in terms of outcome prediction based on MRD monitoring, 75% of patients reached negativity, 13% of patients were positive at very low levels (< 10(-4); i.e., 1 or more leukemic cell per 10(4) normal cells), and another 13% of patients were positive at the level of 10(-2) to 10(-4) cells. No patient showed MRD levels > or = 10(-2) cells at this time. The data demonstrate that patients with TEL/AML1 positive ALL had a better response to induction chemotherapy on Day + 33 compared with a group of unselected patients with ALL (P = 0.0001). However, four patients with TEL/AML1 positive ALL developed relapse disease. Remarkably, these children were positive for MRD on Day + 33 at a level between 10(-2) cells and 10(-4) (n = 3 patients) and at < 10(-4) (n = 1 patient). Kaplan-Meier analysis of disease free survival showed the statistical significance of this distribution (MRD positive vs. MRD negative; log-rank P = 0.0016). The authors conclude that, although the TEL/AML1 positive leukemias generally are associated with a favorable outcome, MRD positivity assessed by RQ-RT-PCR analysis at the end of induction therapy represents a significantly negative prognostic feature.

Madzo J ，Zuna J ，Muzíková K ，Kalinová M ，Krejcí O ，Hrusák O ，Otová B ，Starý J ，Trka J ... -  《CANCER》