Monitoring BCR/ABL Transcript Levels After Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation By Real-time RT-PCR

Objective To monitor dynamics of BCR/ABL transcript levels in chronic myeloid leukemia patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation by real-time RT-PCR for evaluating efficacy of the therapy and guiding further treatment. Methods Taqman real-time RT-PCR technique was performed to monitor peripheral blood BCR/ABL transcript levels in 10 patients at diagnosis and serially performed in 16 patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation at intervals,the β₂-actin mRNA was used as an endogenous reference.Results The sensitivity of real-time RT-PCR was 10copies/μl. The BCR/ABL transcript levels in 10 patients at diagnosis was 6.46 (0.41- 80.95) .In 6 patients, consecutive detection show BCR-ABL transcripts after transplantation decreased gradually, 3/8 after 1 month and 5/8 after 2 months became undetectable.Combine with other 10 patients BCR-ABL transcripts were undetectable in consecutive tests after 3 months.Conclusions The real-time RT-PCR is sensitive, reliable and reproducible for monitoring CML patients after transplantation. It is significance in detecting MRD, predicating the recurrence of the disease and provide practical indications for further treatment. Co-transplantation with peripheral blood and bone marrow stem cell can obtain a low incidence graft versus host reaction without increasing the recurrence rate.