Utility of molecular biology in the diagnosis of acute leukemia and evaluation of the residual disease
La Revue du praticien
J Gabert
Abstract
In acute leukemias evaluating the prognostic factors is one of the main difficulties. At the time of diagnosis, molecular biology highlights the fusion transcripts, the molecular equivalence of certain translocations which are recognised as independent prognostic factors. During the follow-up, the main advantage is in the evaluation of the residual leukemic disease, using in vitro amplification, which is well beyond the limits of detection using traditional technology. Two principal uses are developing: detection of leukemic markers represented by fusion genes and in acute lymphoid leukemias, detection of cloning markers.