Clinical significance of major and minor bcr/abl chimeric transcripts in essential thrombocythemia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Contradictory results have been reported in terms of detecting bcr/abl transcripts in patients with essential thrombocythemia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the bcr/abl transcript could be found in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET).

METHODS:

The bcr/abl transcript was amplified by the RT-nested PCR method using RNA extract from leukocytes taken from 14 essential thrombocythemia patients. The amplified DNAs were electrophoresed in 1% agarose and visualized with ethidium bromide. The DNA bands associated with the bcr/abl transcript were then extracted and followed by DNA sequence analysis.

RESULTS:

Major bcr/abl transcripts of the b3a2 type and minor ones of the e1a2 type were found in one and two ET patients, respectively. The incidence of bcr/abl transcripts was 21.4% (three of 14 patients).

CONCLUSION:

Our experiments confirmed that bcr/abl transcripts are present in some patients with essential thrombocythemia.

• Authors: H Yamada, T Murakami, T Kaneda, M Tadachi, M Utsumi, S Minami, M Hamaguchi, M Kasai, Y Kodera, H Ohashi, Y Morishita, T Terasawa, Y Yamasaki, Y Kamiya, M Hattori, K Yamanaka, K Tsushita, M Shimoyama
• Journal: Japanese journal of clinical oncology (Jpn J Clin Oncol) Vol. 30 Issue 11 Pg. 472-7 (Nov 2000) ISSN: 0368-2811 [Print] England
• PMID: 11155916 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins
• Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl (genetics)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oncogene Proteins, Fusion (genetics)
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins (genetics)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Thrombocythemia, Essential (genetics)
• Transcription, Genetic