Alterations of P53 and RB genes and the evolution of the accelerated phaseof chronic myeloid leukemia

Using the single-strand conformation polymorphism and heteroduplex analyses , the P53 and RE genes were analyzed in cell samples from twenty-eight pati ents with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) both at diagnosis and at the onset of accelerated phase (AP) of the disease. No alterations of the P53 or RE genes were found in any of the chronic phase (CP) samples, Structural abnor malities of the P53 gene were observed in ten of twenty-eight AP samples wi thin exons 4, 5, 7 and 9. Of the ten cases of AP disease with altered P53 g enes, five patients also suffered from the deletion of the other allele. Al terations of the RE gene could be detected in six AP samples, and aberrant band patterns were found in the analysis of exons 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 17 , 21 and 26. Among the six AP samples with structural abnormalities of the RE gene, two showed the loss of the other allele. it is of note that altera tions of both P53 and RE genes were observed in two AP samples. Our data st rongly suggest that abnormalities of the P53 and RB genes and acceleration of CML are linked events in some cases of AP.