ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to explore the usefulness of multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (multiplex RT-PCR) in detection of fusion genes associated with specific translocations in acute leukemia (AL) patients with normal karyotypes. 37 AL patients with normal karyotypes were analyzed by multiplex RT-PCR. The results showed that 4 types of fusion genes such as PML/RARA, AML1/ETO, CBFbeta/MYH11, BCR/ABL were detected in 8 (21.6%) patients by multiplex RT-PCR. In conclusion, multiplex RT-PCR is useful in detection of fusion genes associated with specific translocations in acute leukemia (AL) with normal karyotypes and it would refine the karyotype analysis. When the normal karyotypes were detected in acute leukemia patients by conventional cytogenetic method, the multiplex RT-PCR should be performed for them.