Application of multiplex nested RT- PCR assay for screening the fusion genes in acute myeloid leukemia and its clinical significance / 中华血液学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical value of multiplex nested reverse transcription PCR (RT-nPCR) in screening acute myeloid leukemia(AML)fusion genes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A novel multiplex RT-nPCR assay was developed to detect 16 AML-related fusion genes (AML1-EVI1, AML1-ETO, AML1-MDS1, AML1-MTG16, MLL-AF9, MLL-AF6, MLL-AF10, MLL-ENL, MLL-MLL, PML-RARα, PLZFRARα, NPM1-RARα, CBFB-MYH11, DEK-CAN, SET-CAN and TLS-ERG) according to 2008 WHO classification of AML. The chromosome reciprocal translocations of 356 AML cases were detected by multiplex RT-nPCR and karyotyping. The positive samples were further confirmed by split- out PCR and FISH.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fusion genes were detected in 172 patients with the positive detection rate of 48.31%(172/356), which was higher than that of karyotyping (31.46%) (χ²=70.314, P<0.01). Multiplex RT-nPCR is superior to karyotyping and FISH in identifying the rare, cryptic chromosome translocation (χ²=96.074, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The multiplex RT-nPCR used in this study can quickly, effectively and accurately screen the fusion genes in AML patients, which can provide important evidence for assessing diagnosis and treatment, and also provide necessary information for minimal residual disease (MRD) and prognosis.</p>