SYNTHESIS OF QUANTITATION STANDARDS FOR NESTED COMPETITIVE PCR FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASE IN B-LINEAGE ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA

Quantitative PCR-based assays of leukaemic cells in remission marrow h old promise for therapeutic guidance, but are not yet sufficiently rel iable for clinical application. For B-lineage ALL, these assays usuall y involve PCR of clonal somatic gene rearrangements of the immunoglobu lin heavy chain gene. The most accurate quantification can be achieved by competitive PCR. Here we present a novel approach for the producti on of reference standards for use in nested competitive PCR of these g ene rearrangements, which might enable more reliable assessment of MRD for prognosis and selection of patients for individualised therapy. ( C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.