DISAPPEARANCE OF AML1-MTG8(ETO) FUSION TRANSCRIPT IN ACUTE MYELOID-LEUKEMIA PATIENTS WITH T(8-21) IN LONG-TERM REMISSION

In a study of 23 patients with t(8;21)-associated acute myeloid leukae mia the AML1-MTG8 fusion transcript was present in the majority of ser ial samples obtained from 17 patients followed for up to 34 months aft er diagnosis, but was absent in samples from an six patients who had b een in continuous complete remission for 61 months after allogeneic bo ne marrow transplantation (BMT), or for 52, 53, 123, 182 and 198 month s, respectively, after courses of intensive chemotherapy, Previous stu dies showed that the AML1-MTG8 fusion, transcript was present in most patients with this type of translocation in long-term remission, Our r esults indicate that blood cells of patients with t(8;21) in remission of over 10 years may not show the AML1-MTG8 fusion transcript, and th at those of patients who have undergone allogeneic BMT or intensive ch emotherapy may become fusion transcript-negative much earlier, Our stu dy suggests that leukaemic cells with the AML1-MTG8 fusion transcript may survive for some time after courses of chemotherapy or BMT, but th at they may eventually be eradicated by immunologic and other antileuk aemic mechanisms.