Molecular Detection and Quantification of Bcr-abl Gene

This study was designed as a try to apply molecular, conventional cytogenetic, and immunological techniques as conformational diagnosis of bcr-abl gene and protein, and also to follow up chronic myeloid leukemia patients (CML) treated with imatinb mesylate (IM) for assessment of response at different IM treatment durations. Molecular screening for the presence of bcr-abl gene in 34 CML patients and negative controls were done using Multiplex-Single Step-Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction. The results showed that all CML patients were positive for bcr-abl gene while all the others were negative for this gene. For assessment of molecular response to IM, quantification of bcr-abl gene in CML patients were done using Real Time-Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction-Taqman. CML patients, who show signs of treatment non-response or relapse, were screened for T315I mutation using Allele Specific oligonucleotides. The results showed that this mutation dose not detected in any of those patients. In conclusion, obligatory complementary tests that should be performed for any CML patient who start to receive IM, in order to assess the full respons to therapy.