Ayesha Younas, Isma Imtiaz, Mohammad Jamil Awan, Ayisha Imran, Touqeer Nazir, Noman Aslam Malik.
Association of the presence of BCR-ABL1 gene rearrangements and myeloid aberrant antigens in precursor B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (PRE-B-ALL) patients.
Pak J Pathol May ;34(4):118-23.

Objective: To determine the association of the presence of BCR-ABL1 gene rearrangements and myeloid aberrant antigens in precursor B-ALL patients. Material and Methods: Both males and females, of all age groups, diagnosed with precursor B-ALL on flow cytometry were included in the study. BCR-ABL1 gene rearrangement was identified by performing Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using Vysis LSI BCR/ABL, Dual color, Dual fusion translocation probe set. The results were noted and compared with the results of flow cytometry. Results: Male patients were 36 (60%) and female patients were 24 (40%) out of total 60 patients. Median age was 22 years (range 1-73). BCR-ABL1 fusion gene was identified in 47 (78%) patients while 13 (22%) patients were negative for BCR-ABL1. Aberrant myeloid antigens were expressed in 24 (40%) patients and all of these patients were BCR-ABL1 positive. None of BCR-ABL1 negative patients expressed aberrant antigens. There was statistically significant association between BCR-ABL1 positivity and CD117 expression (P<0.05). Conclusion: In developing countries like Pakistan where specialized investigations like cytogenetics are not easily available, the aberrant phenotype can be used as a screening test for predicting the cytogenetics with poor prognosis like BCR-ABL1

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