The Study on BCR/ABL Fusion Gene in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

In order to assess the significance of BCR/ABC fusion gene in adult acute lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), 28 patients who were diagnosed as ALL were enrolled to detect BCR/ABC gene using nested RT PCR. The results showed that 9 cases (31.25%) were BCR/ABL positive ,and expressed P210 subtype. Among them 7 cases were B ALL, and one was T ALL. The diagnosis was proved by monoclonal antibodies recognition by indirect immunofluorescence. Adult patients with BCR/ABL positive ALL were significantly older ( p <0.01) and had higher WBC count ( p <0.01) as compared with BCR/ABL negative patients.There was no significant difference in sex, hemoglobin and splenomegaly between two group ( p >0.05). The induction failure rate was high in BCR/ABL positive patients and those who achieved complete remission usually relapsed earlier. In conclusion, adult ALL patients with BCR/ABL positive have poorer prognosis.