Changes in the expression of FGFR3 in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia receiving transplants of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR1-4) are implicated in various cell ular events, including cell growth and transformation. Here, we showed that patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) express high level s of FGFR3 mRNA in white blood cells (WBCs). After stem cell transplantatio n and reconstitution of haematopoiesis, the expression of FGFR3 decreased a nd was maintained at low levels that are typical of healthy individuals. Ho wever, FGFR3 expression became upregulated again in those patients that had accelerated BCR/ABL rearrangement and underwent relapse of leukaemia. Our findings suggest that. in CML, the changing levels of FGFR3 transcripts in WBCs map have prognostic significance.