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Myeloid Leukemia

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Diagnosis of AML1-MTG8 (ETO)-Positive AML 153<br />

Fig. 1. Sequential qualitative reverse-transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction<br />

(PCR) monitoring of AML1-MTG8 (ETO) in 6 t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML)<br />

patients. Patients 1 and 2 experienced hematological relapse, whereas patients 3–6<br />

remain in stable remission. Solid circles, RT-PCR positive; open circles, RT-PCR<br />

negative.<br />

additional therapy in an attempt to improve clinical outcome. Therefore, the<br />

value of any technique will be significantly reduced if it fails to distinguish<br />

between patients who are in stable remission and those at high risk of relapse.<br />

For this reason, qualitative protocols for the amplification of AML1-MTG8<br />

(ETO) with high sensitivity are not suitable for MRD monitoring, as they will<br />

detect fusion transcripts even in patients in long-term remission. Moreover,<br />

protocols with a low sensitivity will not be able to predict early relapse in a<br />

large proportion of patients. Thus, the only credible approach is a sensitive<br />

quantification of the AML1-MTG8 (ETO) fusion transcripts (Fig. 1). There are

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