Tandem application of flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction for choice targets of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
TIE Li-Jun, GU Long-Jun, JIANG Li-Min, ZHAO Jin-Cai, CHEN Jing, PAN Ci, DONG Lu, CHEN Jing, XUE Hui-Liang, TANG Jing-Yan, WANG Yao-Ping.
Department of Hematology/Oncology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China.
Abstract:OBJECTIVE: Minimal residual disease (MRD) is one of the most important prognostic factors in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Flow cytometry and PCR are two common techniques for examining MRD in ALL. This study aimed to identify MRD targets by tandem application of both techniques in children with ALL. METHODS: From September 2001 to October 2003, 126 children with newly diagnosed ALL were enrolled on the treatment protocol ALL-XH-99. Tandem application of flow cytometry and PCR was performed to identify MRD targets in these patients. RESULTS:① Using sets of combined antibodies, immunophenotypic expression of leukemia cells was observed in 95 of 106 B-lineage ALL cases (89.6%). Only one aberrant immunophenotype was observed in 11 cases (11.6%) and most patients with B-lineage ALL (88.4%) expressed at least two suitable targets. ② Using PCR technique, T-cell receptor (TCR) or immunoglobulin gene rearrangements were identified in 26 of 27 patients (96.3%). Two or more monoclonal/ bi-allelic gene rearrangements were identified in 17 cases (65.4%). The majority (70%) of T-lineage ALL cases contained TCRVγⅠ-Jγ1.3/2.3. Cross-lineage TCR rearrangements were found in 57.1% of cases with B-lineage ALL. ③ Suitable MRD targets of immunophenotypic abnormalities or antigen receptor gene rearrangements were detected in 121 patients (96.0%). CONCLUSIONS: MRD targets were identified using tandem application of flow cytometry and PCR in almost of children with ALL. Cross-lineage TCR rearrangements and bi-allelic gene rearrangements were observed in many patients.[Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2009, 11 (4):246-250]
TIE Li-Jun,GU Long-Jun,JIANG Li-Min et al. Tandem application of flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction for choice targets of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia[J]. CJCP, 2009, 11(04): 246-250.
[4]Pongers-Willemse MJ, Seriu T, Stolz F, d′Aniello E, Gameiro P, Pisa P, et al. Primers and protocols for standardized detection of minimal residual disease in acute lymphoblastic leukemia using immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene rearrangements and TAL1 deletions as PCR targets: report of the BIOMED-1 CONCERTED ACTION: investigation of minimal residual disease in acute leukemia[J]. Leukemia, 1999, 13(8):110-118.
[5]Compana D, Coustan-Smith E. Minimal residual disease studies by flow cytometry in acute leukemia[J]. Acta Haematol, 2004,112(12):8-15.
[6]Cazzaniga G, Biondi A. Molecular monitoring of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia using antigen receptor gene rearrangements and quantitative polymerase chain reaction technology[J]. Haematologica, 2005, 90(3):382-390.
[7]Van der Velden VH, Hochhaus A,Cazzaniga G, Szczepanski T, Gabert J, van Dongen JJ. Detection of minimal residual disease in hematologic malignancies by real-time quantitative PCR: principles, approaches, and laboratory aspects[J]. Leukemia, 2003, 17(6):1013-1034.
[8]Szczepanski T, Willemse MJ, Brinkhof B, van Wering ER, van der Burg M, van Dongen JJ. Comparative analysis of Ig and TCR gene rearrangements at diagnosis and at relapse of childhood precursor-B-ALL provides improved strategies for selection of stable PCR targets for monitoring of minimal residual disease[J]. Blood, 2002, 99(7):2315-2323.
[9]Szczepanski T, van der Velden VH, Raff T, Jacobs DC, van Wering ER, Bruggemann M. Comparative analysis of T-cell receptor gene rearrangements at diagnosis and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) shows high stability of clonal markers for monitoring of minimal residual disease and reveals the occurrence of second T-ALL[J]. Leukemia, 2003, 17(11):2149-2156.
[10]Neale GA, Coustan-Smith E, Stow P, Pan Q, Chen X, Pui CH, Campana D. Comparative analysis of flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction for the detection of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia[J]. Leukemia, 2004,18(5): 934-938.
[11]Bruggemann M, van der Velden VH, Raff T, Droese J, Ritgen M, Pott C, et al. Rearranged T-cell receptor beta genes represent powerful targets for quantification of minimal residual disease in childhood and adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia[J]. Leukemia, 2004, 18(4):709-719.