DNA FINGERPRINT ANALYSIS IN ACUTE LEUKEMIAS

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis by Southern b lotting or direct in-gel hybridization is a routine procedure in any g enetic laboratory. Minisatellites and simple repeat probes for RFLP an alysis have proved to be highly informative genetic markers, depending on their degree of homology and index of heterozygosity. Several of t hese probes have considerable individualization potential, thus yieldi ng 'fingerprint' pattern. In the setting of acute leukemia DNA fingerp rint (DNA-F) analysis is able to provide considerable information conc erning the genetic instability of the leukemic done. DNA-F is capable of detecting randomly occurring genetic alterations of unknown localiz ation and to identify new hotspots of malignant transformation. As DNA -F analysis is not likely to be hampered by the effects of chemotherap y or DNA methylation, altered fingerprints may be regarded as characte ristic of the leukemic clone. With the introduction of polymerase chai n reaction (PCR) and increasing sensitivity, DNA-F analysis is likely to be of significant importance in monitoring minimal residual disease in human leukemia.