The Detection of AML1/ETO Fusion Transcript in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital H. Rosline 1*, M. Y. Narazah 2, I. Illunihayati 4, M. N. Isa2, A. A. Baba3 1Departments of Haematology, 2Human Genome Center, 3Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia 4Pathology Department, Kota Bharu Hospital, Kelantan, Malaysia.
*Author for Correspondence. Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, 16150, Kelantan. Tel: 609-7664139; Fax: 609-7653370. E.mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Key words: acute myeloid leukaemia, AML1/ETO, RT-PCR
Abstract. The translocation (8;21)(q22;22) is one of the most common chromosomal aberrations seen in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), occuring in the frequency of 7 to 12 % of cases . The t(8; 21) results in the formation of a chimeric AML1/ETO transcript. The aim of this study was to detect AML1/ETO fusion transcript in patients with AML diagnosed in Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital. RNA from 24 whole blood samples were extracted from these patients and subjected to RT-PCR using specific primers for AML1 and ETO genes. Four of these patients (16.7%) were found to have AML1/ETO fusion transcript. Morphologically 3 of them were classified as AML-M2 (FAB classification) and 1 was classified as AML-M1. Only one of those positive samples was sent for cytogenetic analysis and was found to have t(8;21). All 3 patients with AMLM2 had aberrant expression of CD19. Thus, RT-PCR detection of AML1/ETO may identify a subgroup of AML patients who carry a better prognosis.
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