Molecular evaluation of residual disease as a predictor of relapse in acute promyelocytic leukaemia

F Lo Coco; D Diverio; P P Pandolfi; A Biondi; V Rossi; G Avvisati; A Rambaldi; W Arcese; M C Petti; G Meloni

doi:10.1016/0140-6736(92)92625-p

Molecular evaluation of residual disease as a predictor of relapse in acute promyelocytic leukaemia

Lancet. 1992 Dec 12;340(8833):1437-8. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)92625-p.

Authors

F Lo Coco¹, D Diverio, P P Pandolfi, A Biondi, V Rossi, G Avvisati, A Rambaldi, W Arcese, M C Petti, G Meloni, et al.

Affiliation

¹ University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 1360562
DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)92625-p

Abstract

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is characterised by a unique fusion transcript, PML/RAR alpha. We tested for this transcript in 35 APL patients who were in apparent remission after various treatments. 11 of 13 patients who tested positive 4 months after achieving remission were in relapse 1-4 months later. All 22 patients who tested negative at 4 months were disease-free after a further 3 months to five years. The test may therefore prove useful in determining the need for additional treatment during clinical remission.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Carrier Proteins / genetics*
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17
Genes, Neoplasm
Humans
Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / diagnosis*
Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / drug therapy
Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / genetics
Polymerase Chain Reaction*
RNA, Messenger / analysis
Receptors, Retinoic Acid
Recurrence
Remission Induction
Transcription, Genetic
Translocation, Genetic
Tretinoin / therapeutic use

Substances

Carrier Proteins
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Retinoic Acid
Tretinoin