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Monitoring PML-RARα in acute promyelocytic leukemia

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Abstract

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a translocation between the promyelocytic leukemia gene (PML) on chromosome 15 and the retinoic acid receptor-α (RARα) gene on chromosome 17. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of PML-RARα messenger RNA can establish the diagnosis of APL, predict response to all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide, detect minimal residual disease, and predict relapse. Quantitative "real-time" RT-PCR techniques may improve residual disease assessment by facilitating more rapid and standardized results. APL provides a useful model in which therapy is targeted to an underlying genetic aberration and treatment is adapted based on monitoring of residual disease.

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  1. Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, 10021, New York, NY, USA

    Joseph G. Jurcic MD

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Jurcic, J.G. Monitoring PML-RARα in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Curr Oncol Rep 5, 391–398 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-003-0025-7

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