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Quantification of CBFB-MYH11 fusion gene levels in paired peripheral blood and bone marrow samples by real-time PCR

Leukemia volume 19, pages 1988–1990 (2005)Cite this article

TO THE EDITOR

Inv(16)(p13q22) and the related translocation t(16;16)(p13;q22) generate a CBFB-MYH11 fusion gene transcript and are commonly found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) M4Eo.1 This recurrent chromosomal anomaly is considered a good risk marker, associated with a high complete remission rate and a long-term disease-free survival.2 Nevertheless, a considerable proportion of patients suffer from relapse. Analysis of minimal residual disease (MRD) may allow recognition of patients at high risk of relapse and/or may detect an upcoming relapse. Buonamici et al3 used real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) analysis and suggested the existence of cutoff points in CBFB-MYH11+ AML beneath which durable remission is likely or above which relapse is probable. Schnittger et al4 proposed a risk stratification score for CBFB-MYH11+ AML based on the quantification of fusion gene transcripts at diagnosis and after consolidation. So far, most MRD studies in CBFB-MYH11+ AML patients mainly used bone marrow (BM) samples. To evaluate the possibility to safely replace BM by peripheral blood (PB) for PCR-MRD monitoring in clinical settings, comparing RQ-PCR results of paired PB-BM samples is essential. For specific subtypes of AML, such as the t(8;21)-positive AML with AML1-ETO transcripts, the possibility of MRD monitoring through quantitative analysis of PB has been reported.5, 6 Gallagher et al7 reported on the prognostic value of RQ-PCR of PML-RARA transcripts and showed that paired PB–BM samples had comparable MRD levels. They suggested that RQ-PCR for PML-RARA performed on PB at frequent follow-up points may improve predictive accuracy for relapse or continuing complete remission. Whether MRD monitoring of PB is of prognostic relevance in CBFB-MYH11+ AML patients is, however, still unknown.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Professor Dr N Blanckaert for this continuous support and to Marieke Comans-Bitter for preparation of the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Hematology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

    N Boeckx

  2. Center for Molecular Diagnostics, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

    N Boeckx, J De Roover & P Vandenberghe

  3. Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    V H J van der Velden & J J M van Dongen

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

    J Maertens

  5. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

    A Uyttebroeck

  6. Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    P Vandenberghe

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Correspondence to N Boeckx.

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Boeckx, N., De Roover, J., van der Velden, V. et al. Quantification of CBFB-MYH11 fusion gene levels in paired peripheral blood and bone marrow samples by real-time PCR. Leukemia 19, 1988–1990 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403961

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