Haematologica (Dec 2007)

Atypical BCR-ABL mRNA transcripts in adult Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

  • Thomas Burmeister,
  • Stefan Schwartz,
  • Almut Taubald,
  • Edgar Jost,
  • Thomas Lipp,
  • Folker Schneller,
  • Helmut Diedrich,
  • Henrike Thomssen,
  • Ulrich J.M. Mey,
  • Jan Eucker,
  • Harald Rieder,
  • Nicola Gökbuget,
  • Dieter Hoelzer,
  • Eckhard Thiel

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.11737
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 92, no. 12

Abstract

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RT-PCR detects chimeric BCR-ABL mRNA in approximately 25% of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases. Minor breakpoint transcripts (e1a2) are found in about 70% of positive cases and major breakpoint transcripts (e13a2, e14a2) in about 30% of cases. However, other atypical transcripts are sometimes observed. We report experience gained in the GMALL Study Group and identified 8 BCR-ABL-positive adult ALL cases with such atypical transcripts: 5 with e1a3, 2 with e13a3 (b2a3), and 1 with e6a2. This corresponds to a prevalence of 1–2% of all BCR-ABL-positive cases. The clinical courses are reported and diagnostic proposals are made.