OBJECTIVETo establish a real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RQ-RT-PCR) for quantitative detection of the common molecular markers that have affirmative clinical significance in the acute and chronic leukemia patients, and evaluate its significance in diagnosing leukemias and monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD).

METHODSPrimers and TaqMan probes were designed for detecting various fusion transcripts and normal abl gene was used as the internal control. The expression level of fusion transcripts in 202 newly diagnosed leukemias were determined.

RESULTSIn absolute quantity, expression level of the fusion transcripts in various leukemias was b3a2 (b2a2) 47614.63, e1a2 98847.53, AML1-ETO 300029.51, PML-RAR alpha 25506.28, respectively, while in relative quantity to abl, the levels were 1.05, 0.91, 5.33 and 0.55, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe relative quantification of gene expression level by using RQ-RT-PCR to abl control gene is more accurate and direct viewing. Different levels of transcription of corresponding fusion genes are found in various subtypes of leukemias at diagnosis, among which the level of AML1-ETO was higher and PML-RAR alpha lower.