scholarly journals A possible correlation between the type of bcr-abl hybrid messenger RNA and platelet count in Philadelphia-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia [see comments]

Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 3125-3127 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Inokuchi ◽  
T Inoue ◽  
A Tojo ◽  
M Futaki ◽  
K Miyake ◽  
...  

The Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome, in which the hybrid bcr-abl gene is formed, is thought to be the initial event in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The position of the breakpoint within the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) on Ph1 chromosome and the splicing pattern determine the species of the fused bcr-abl messenger RNA (mRNA). We tried to detect the two types of fused mRNAs in 57 chronic-phase cases of Ph1-positive CML using the polymerase chain reaction procedure (RT- PCR). The bcr exon 2/abl exon 2 fused mRNA (b2-a2) was detected in 17 patients, the bcr exon 3/abl exon 2 fused mRNA (b3-a2) was detected in 34 patients, and both types of mRNA were detected in six patients. The platelet counts of patients who expressed b3-a2 mRNA or both types were significantly higher than those of patients who expressed only b2-a2 (841.5 v 373.5 x 10(9)/L; P less than .015), although there was no significant difference in the white blood cell counts or hemoglobin. This finding suggests a possibility that the type of bcr-abl mRNA may affect the thrombopoietic activity in CML.

Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 3125-3127 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Inokuchi ◽  
T Inoue ◽  
A Tojo ◽  
M Futaki ◽  
K Miyake ◽  
...  

Abstract The Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome, in which the hybrid bcr-abl gene is formed, is thought to be the initial event in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The position of the breakpoint within the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) on Ph1 chromosome and the splicing pattern determine the species of the fused bcr-abl messenger RNA (mRNA). We tried to detect the two types of fused mRNAs in 57 chronic-phase cases of Ph1-positive CML using the polymerase chain reaction procedure (RT- PCR). The bcr exon 2/abl exon 2 fused mRNA (b2-a2) was detected in 17 patients, the bcr exon 3/abl exon 2 fused mRNA (b3-a2) was detected in 34 patients, and both types of mRNA were detected in six patients. The platelet counts of patients who expressed b3-a2 mRNA or both types were significantly higher than those of patients who expressed only b2-a2 (841.5 v 373.5 x 10(9)/L; P less than .015), although there was no significant difference in the white blood cell counts or hemoglobin. This finding suggests a possibility that the type of bcr-abl mRNA may affect the thrombopoietic activity in CML.


2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 2915-2926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razelle Kurzrock ◽  
Carlos E. Bueso-Ramos ◽  
Hagop Kantarjian ◽  
Emil Freireich ◽  
Susan L. Tucker ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To document the characteristics of patients with major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr) rearrangement–negative chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The hematopathologist, who was blinded to patients’ molecular status, reviewed the referral bone marrows and peripheral-blood smears from 26 patients with Philadelphia (Ph) translocation–negative CML who lacked Bcr rearrangement (and other evidence of a Bcr-Abl anomaly) and 14 patients (controls) with chronic-phase Ph-positive CML. Clinical data was ascertained by chart review. RESULTS: Among the 26 M-bcr rearrangement–negative CML patients, three pathologic subtypes emerged: (1) patients indistinguishable from classic CML (n = 9), (2) patients with atypical CML (n = 8), and (3) patients with chronic neutrophilic leukemia (n = 9). Among the 14 patients with Ph-positive CML who were included in the blinded review, 13 were classified as classic CML, and one was classified as atypical CML. The only statistically significant difference between M-bcr rearrangement–negative subgroups was in the proportion of patients having karyotypic abnormalities, an observation common only in patients with atypical CML (P = 0.008). However, the small number of patients in each subgroup limited our ability to differentiate between them. Interferon alfa induced complete hematologic remission in five of 14 patients; four of these remissions lasted more than 5 years. Only one of 26 patients developed blast crisis. The median survival of the 26 patients was 37 months. CONCLUSION: Patients with M-bcr rearrangement–negative CML fall into three morphologic subgroups. Disease evolution does not generally involve blastic transformation. Instead, patients show progressive organomegaly, leukocytosis, anemia, and thrombocytosis. Some patients in each subgroup can respond to interferon alfa.


Blood ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 906-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Ohnishi ◽  
R Ohno ◽  
M Tomonaga ◽  
N Kamada ◽  
K Onozawa ◽  
...  

Abstract A multicenter randomized study was conducted to compare the effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) with that of busulfan in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase. From October 1988 to October 1991, 170 patients were randomized to receive either IFN-alpha or busulfan. Of 159 eligible patients, 31 (38.8%) of 80 patients in the IFN-alpha group and 43 (54.4%) of 79 patients in the busulfan group achieved complete hematologic remission, and 38.8% in the IFN-alpha group and 43.0% in the busulfan group achieved partial hematologic remission. A complete cytogenetic response was induced in seven (8.8%) of 80 patients treated with IFN-alpha and two (2.5%) of 79 patients treated with busulfan, and a partial cytogenetic response was 7.5% (6/80) and 2.5% (2/79), respectively. The difference in major (complete and partial) cytogenetic response between the two groups was significant (P = .046). At a median follow-up of 50 months, the predicted 5-year survival rate was 54% in the IFN-alpha group and 32% in the busulfan group (P = .0290), and the predicted 5-year rate of remaining in chronic phase was 41% in the IFN-alpha group and 29% in the busulfan group (P = .1165). As compared with the patients with no cytogenetic response, the patients with any cytogenetic response (complete, partial or minor) after the IFN-alpha or busulfan treatment were significantly superior in the duration of chronic phase (IFN-alpha group; P = .0017, busulfan group; P = .0010) even after correction for the time to response using the landmark analysis. However, there was no significant difference in survival rate in the IFN-alpha group (P = .1065). There was no significant difference in survival rate (P = .3923) and the duration of chronic phase (P = .6258) between the IFN- alpha and the busulfan group in the patients with a cytogenetic response (complete, partial or minor). These results demonstrate that IFN-alpha treatment produces a significantly superior cytogenetic response and survival rate as compared with the busulfan treatment, and unexpectedly, that busulfan can also eliminate Philadelphia chromosome positive clone in a few patients who showed prolonged survival rate and duration of chronic phase.


Blood ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 906-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Ohnishi ◽  
R Ohno ◽  
M Tomonaga ◽  
N Kamada ◽  
K Onozawa ◽  
...  

A multicenter randomized study was conducted to compare the effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) with that of busulfan in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase. From October 1988 to October 1991, 170 patients were randomized to receive either IFN-alpha or busulfan. Of 159 eligible patients, 31 (38.8%) of 80 patients in the IFN-alpha group and 43 (54.4%) of 79 patients in the busulfan group achieved complete hematologic remission, and 38.8% in the IFN-alpha group and 43.0% in the busulfan group achieved partial hematologic remission. A complete cytogenetic response was induced in seven (8.8%) of 80 patients treated with IFN-alpha and two (2.5%) of 79 patients treated with busulfan, and a partial cytogenetic response was 7.5% (6/80) and 2.5% (2/79), respectively. The difference in major (complete and partial) cytogenetic response between the two groups was significant (P = .046). At a median follow-up of 50 months, the predicted 5-year survival rate was 54% in the IFN-alpha group and 32% in the busulfan group (P = .0290), and the predicted 5-year rate of remaining in chronic phase was 41% in the IFN-alpha group and 29% in the busulfan group (P = .1165). As compared with the patients with no cytogenetic response, the patients with any cytogenetic response (complete, partial or minor) after the IFN-alpha or busulfan treatment were significantly superior in the duration of chronic phase (IFN-alpha group; P = .0017, busulfan group; P = .0010) even after correction for the time to response using the landmark analysis. However, there was no significant difference in survival rate in the IFN-alpha group (P = .1065). There was no significant difference in survival rate (P = .3923) and the duration of chronic phase (P = .6258) between the IFN- alpha and the busulfan group in the patients with a cytogenetic response (complete, partial or minor). These results demonstrate that IFN-alpha treatment produces a significantly superior cytogenetic response and survival rate as compared with the busulfan treatment, and unexpectedly, that busulfan can also eliminate Philadelphia chromosome positive clone in a few patients who showed prolonged survival rate and duration of chronic phase.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 2075-2080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre J. Issa ◽  
Hagop Kantarjian ◽  
Avinash Mohan ◽  
Susan O’Brien ◽  
Jorge Cortes ◽  
...  

The BCR-ABL chromosomal translocation is a central event in the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). One of theABL1 promoters (Pa) and the coding region of the gene are usually translocated intact to the BCR locus, but the translocated promoter appears to be silent in most cases. Recently, hypermethylation of Pa was demonstrated in CML and was proposed to mark advanced stages of the disease. To study this issue, we measured Pa methylation in CML using Southern blot analysis. Of 110 evaluable samples, 23 (21%) had no methylation, 17 (15%) had minimal (<15%) methylation, 12 (11%) had moderate methylation (15% to 25%), and 58 (53%) had high levels of methylation (>25%) at the ABL1locus. High methylation was more frequent in advanced cases of CML. Among the 76 evaluable patients in early chronic phase (ECP), a major cytogenetic response with interferon-based therapy was observed in 14 of 34 patients with high methylation compared with 19 of 42 among the others (41% v 45%; P value not significant). At a median follow-up of 7 years, there was no significant difference in survival by ABL1 methylation category. Among patients who achieved a major cytogenetic response, low levels of methylation were associated with a trend towards improved survival, but this trend did not reach statistical significance. Thus, Pa methylation in CML is associated with disease progression but does not appear to predict for survival or response to interferon-based therapy.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 1819-1824 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Saglio ◽  
A Guerrasio ◽  
C Rosso ◽  
A Zaccaria ◽  
A Tassinari ◽  
...  

Abstract A new and rare type of Bcr/Abl junction between exon C3 of the 3′ portion of the Bcr gene and Abl exon 2 has been identified in the leukemic cells of two Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia patients in chronic phase. This is the fourth type of Bcr/Abl junction so far identified in Ph1-positive hematologic malignancies and is a consequence of an unusual breakpoint position on chromosome 22 that falls approximately 20 kb downstream of the major breakpoint cluster region (bcr) of the Bcr gene. The new hybrid mRNA is 540 base pairs (bp) longer than that expressed by the K562 cell line and could codify for a Bcr/Abl protein carrying 180 additional aminoacids with respect to the larger P210 protein so far identified. The hematologic phenotype expressed by the two patients carrying this unusual type of Bcr/Abl rearrangement does not significantly differ from that commonly seen in chronic myelogenous leukemia.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Kurzrock ◽  
HM Kantarjian ◽  
M Shtalrid ◽  
JU Gutterman ◽  
M Talpaz

Abstract The hallmarks of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) include the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) translocation [t (9;22)(q34;q11)] and consistent molecular genetic aberrations: a break within a restricted 5.8 kb DNA segment, bcr, on chromosome 22q11; transposition of the c- abl protooncogene from chromosome 9q34 to 22q11; and formation of a hybrid bar-abl gene encoding an abnormal 210 Kd bcr-abl protein with augmented tyrosine kinase enzymatic activity. These molecular phenomena may occur even in the absence of cytogenetic evidence of the Ph translocation. They are highly specific and sensitive markers for CML, and are presumed to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of this malignancy. Surprisingly, we have encountered 11 patients who lacked the Ph translocation, bcr rearrangement, and (in the four patients with available mRNA) a bcr-abl message, and yet had a disease phenotype at diagnosis that was a morphologic facsimile of classic chronic phase CML. These patients presented with high white blood cell counts, neutrophilia, occasional basophilia, splenomegaly, and a hypercellular bone marrow with granulocytic hyperplasia and a left shift in myeloid maturation. Despite the striking resemblance between the early stages of bcr-negative and bcr-positive CML, disease progression manifests distinctly in these two disorders. In contrast to the blastic transformation that inevitably complicates bcr-positive CML, the natural history of our 11 Ph-negative, bcr-negative CML patients was characterized by increasing leukemia burden with leukocytosis, pronounced organomegaly, extramedullary infiltrates, and eventual bone marrow failure (anemia and thrombocytopenia) without marked increases in blast cells. Our current observations suggest that a chronic myeloid leukemia process can develop without associated changes in the bcr or c- abl genes. Although the initial phase of this disease is indistinguishable from CML, the presence or absence of molecular markers may aid in the prediction of the clinical course of Ph-negative CML.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 1819-1824 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Saglio ◽  
A Guerrasio ◽  
C Rosso ◽  
A Zaccaria ◽  
A Tassinari ◽  
...  

A new and rare type of Bcr/Abl junction between exon C3 of the 3′ portion of the Bcr gene and Abl exon 2 has been identified in the leukemic cells of two Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia patients in chronic phase. This is the fourth type of Bcr/Abl junction so far identified in Ph1-positive hematologic malignancies and is a consequence of an unusual breakpoint position on chromosome 22 that falls approximately 20 kb downstream of the major breakpoint cluster region (bcr) of the Bcr gene. The new hybrid mRNA is 540 base pairs (bp) longer than that expressed by the K562 cell line and could codify for a Bcr/Abl protein carrying 180 additional aminoacids with respect to the larger P210 protein so far identified. The hematologic phenotype expressed by the two patients carrying this unusual type of Bcr/Abl rearrangement does not significantly differ from that commonly seen in chronic myelogenous leukemia.


Blood ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 398-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Hehlmann ◽  
H Heimpel ◽  
J Hasford ◽  
HJ Kolb ◽  
H Pralle ◽  
...  

In a randomized multicenter study the influence of hydroxyurea versus busulfan on the duration of the chronic phase and on survival of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) was determined. In addition cross resistance and adverse reactions of the drugs were analyzed. From July 1983 to January 1991, 441 CML patients were randomized to receive hydroxyurea or busulfan. Of these, 90.7% were Philadelphia positive; 25.7% were low, 38.2% intermediate, and 36.2% high risk patients according to Sokal's score. The median survival of the busulfan treated Philadelphia-positive patients is 45.4 months and of the hydroxyurea group 58.2 months (P = .008). The survival advantage for the hydroxyurea treated patients is recognized in all risk groups. Sixty four patients reached therapy resistance before blast crisis and were crossed over to the alternative drug. The 23 patients with primary hydroxyurea had a median survival of 5.6 years, the 41 patients with primary busulfan therapy a median survival of 2.7 years (P = .02). Adverse reactions were less frequent with hydroxyurea with no severe adverse effects (lung fibrosis, long lasting bone marrow aplasia). The analysis of white blood cell counts in the course of treatment showed lower counts in the hydroxyurea patients. We conclude that hydroxyurea is superior to busulfan in therapy of CML in chronic phase and should be used as first line therapy. Busulfan may have a role as secondary therapy after hydroxyurea resistance or intolerance.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Mashal ◽  
M Shtalrid ◽  
M Talpaz ◽  
H Kantarjian ◽  
L Smith ◽  
...  

We tested a population of over 60 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) for changes in the structure and expression of the p53 gene, which is located on chromosome 17. Six of 27 (22%) blast crisis samples and 3 of 5 (60%) accelerated phase samples had rearrangements of chromosome 17, whereas only 3 of 42 (7%) chronic phase patients had cytogenetic changes in chromosome 17. There was no loss of heterozygosity during the transition to blastic crisis among seven individuals who were informative for polymorphic probes for regions in or around the p53 gene on 17p. One patient in the chronic phase and one patient in the blastic phase of the 61 CML patients studied exhibited rearrangements of the p53 gene that were detectable by Southern analysis. One p53 allele was rearranged in the chronic phase patient and both p53 alleles were rearranged in the blastic phase patient. The p53 messenger RNA (mRNA) was of normal size (2.8 kb) in chronic phase and blast crisis, and the expression of the p53 gene was at least as high or higher in blast crisis as in the chronic phase of CML. The high incidence of abnormalities of chromosome 17 in blast-crisis CML found in our studies and the discovery of rearrangements of the p53 gene in two CML patients studied suggest that further study with probes for the p53 gene and anonymous polymorphic sites in chromosome 17 should be conducted in CML.


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