Abstract
The BCR/ABL hybrid gene plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We used a very sensitive quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to investigate the levels of hybrid BCR/ABL mRNA in bone marrow cells of 20 patients with Philadelphia positive (Ph+) CML treated with interferon-α (IFN-α) as a single agent. Bone marrow samples were collected at diagnosis and at hematologic remission induced by IFN-α, or by hydroxyurea in case of resistance to IFN-α. The mean levels of BCR/ABL transcripts in bone marrow mononuclear cells of patients who showed a complete hematologic response to IFN-α were significantly reduced with respect to those at diagnosis (48 x 103 v 168 x 103; P <.001), whereas no difference was detected between the values at diagnosis and at hematologic remission in patients resistant to IFN-α. In cell culture experiments, IFN-α priming significantly reduced the levels of BCR/ABL hybrid transcripts in a dose-dependent manner in Ph+ bone marrow precursors obtained at diagnosis from patients who subsequently responded to IFN-α treatment (P <.005). No downmodulation was observed in bone marrow precursors from patients who subsequently proved to be IFN- resistant. These results indicate that downmodulation of BCR/ABL gene expression could be one of the mechanisms involved in the response of CML patients to IFN-α treatment.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2200-2207 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Blood |
Volume | 94 |
Issue number | 7 |
Publication status | Published - Oct 1 1999 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology