Dynamics of mutant BCR-ABL-positive clones after cessation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Point mutations of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase domain are considered the predominant cause of imatinib resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia. The expansion of mutant BCR-ABL-positive clones under selective pressure of tyrosine kinase inhibition is referred to as clonal selection; there are few data on the reversibility of this phenomenon.

Design and methods

The changes of expression of mutant BCR-ABL-positive alleles after cessation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment were examined in 19 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia harboring different mutations in a longitudinal follow-up. The proportion of mutant alleles was quantified by amplification of rearranged ABL sequences followed by mutation-specific restriction digestion, electrophoresis and densitometry.

SUBMITTER: Hanfstein B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3046266 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature