Detection of Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by Polymerase Chain Reaction: Possible Eradication of Minimal Residual Disease by

Minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Phl ALL) who received allogeneic (n = 9) or autologous (n = 6) bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was evaluated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the bcr-ab1 transcript. Twelve patients received BMT at the time of hematologic and cytogenetic remission. However, MRD was detected in 8 of 10 patients evaluated. Seven patients, including three who had MRD before BMT, continue to have a disease-free survival 5 to 64 months after BMT. Twenty-one specimens obtained from these patients at various times after BMT did ONE MARROW transplantation (BMT) has been B performed as one mode of cure-oriented therapy for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), such as Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Phl) ALL.’, ’ Neverthe-less, recurrence of the original disease remains one of th