Objective: To analyze the fusion genes derived from 29 types of chromosome structural aberrations in children with leukemia.
Methods: Bone marrow samples from 191 children with leukemia were analyzed with a novel multiplex nested RT-PCR.
Results: Of the 191 leukemic samples, 86 (45.0%) carried 14 types of fusion genes including SIL/TAL1, MLL/AF1q, E2A/PBX1, MLL/AF6, AML1/ETO, MLL/AF9, TEL/ABL, BCR/ABL, MLL/AF10, dupMLL, MLL/ENL, TEL/AML1, PML/RARalpha and CBFbeta/MYH11. The activation of oncogene HOX11 was detected in 31 cases, with or without other chromosome aberrations in 15 (7.8%) and 16 cases (8.4%), respectively.
Conclusion: This multiplex nested RT-PCR reaction could screen 29 types of chromosome structural aberrations at the same time. It may be helpful for the detection of minimal residual diseases after chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.