Identification Of Fusion Gene In Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With RT-PCR And FISH

Objective: To establish the nest reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)method to detect expression of TEL-AML1,E2A /PBX1,MLL/AF4,BCR/ABL four fusion genes in pediatric cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.To compare with the differences between the nest RT-PCR and the FISH.Methods: Four fusion genes was identified in bone marrow mononuclear cells from 63 newly diagnosed childhood ALL patients by nest RT-PCR and the FISH. TEL-AML1 f- usion gene was identified by both methods from 5 positive childhood ALL patients who had achieved complete remission.Results:â‘ By the nest RT-PCR,14 cases were found with TEL-AML1,3 cases were found with E2A/PBX1,1 case was found with BCR/ABL and 2 cases were found with MLL/A- F4.â‘¡By the FISH,16 cases were found with TEL-AML1,3 cases were found with E2A/P- BX1,1 case was found with BCR/ABL,and 2 cases were found with MLL/AF4.â‘¢By the nest RT-PCR,2 cases were found with TEL-AML1 after the complete remis- sion, FISH found nothing.Conclusion:â‘ The nest RT-PCR and the FISH are powerful in detecting cryptic genetic translocat- ion such as t(12;21) t(1;19) t(9,22) and t(4;11).â‘¡TEL-AML1 fusion gene was found in 16 out of 63 cases , accounting for 25.4% in pediatric ALL. E2A/PBX1 fusion gene was found in 3 out of 63 cases , accounting for 4.8%. BCR/ABL fusion gene was found in 1 out of 63 cases , accounting for 1.6 %. MLL/AF4 fusion gene was found in 2 out of 63 cases , accounting for 3.1%.â‘¢Compared with the nest RT-PCR, FISH technology is more fidelity and directvi- ewing in the identification of fusion gene which with the newly diagnosed childho- od ALL patients.â‘£The nest RT-PCR is more saitivity than the FISH in the dectection of fusion gene which with the complete remission childhood ALL patients.