Detection of BCR/ABL gene rearrangement and the elimination of rearranged clone in chronic myelocytic leukemia patients

Cytogenetic and molecular studies were performed on 20 interferon-alpha rec eiving Turkish chronic myelocytic leukemia patients. Four different restric tion endonucleases and bcr-G probe were used for southern blot analysis to detect rearrangements of the bcr gene. The RT-PCR method was also applied t o detect chimeric bcr/abl mRNA. Seventeen patients showed a chromosomal bre ak within the 5.8 kb M-bcr region by southern blot analysis while three cas es out of 20 have not shown any rearrangement. These three cases were furth er analysed by RT-PCR and they were also found to be carrying the Philadelp hia translocation (Ph), However, in four years of follow-up this RT-PCR pos itivity has disappeared, which suggests an elimination of Ph clone with pro longed interferon-alpha treatment. Am. J. Hematol, 63:85-89, 2000, (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.