Evaluation of RT-PCR to Detect Translocations in Children Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common subtype of childhood cancer. Chromosomal abnormality, specially the replacement of chromosomal material is one of the main reasons in generating leukemia, wherein the kind of translocation play a key role in managing the remedy. The goal of the present study was to develop a reliable, rapid, and cost effective method to detect translocations, which are the main sources of leukemia. Methods: Twenty seven samples were collected from leukemia affected individuals that were referred to the Shafa Hospital in Ahwaz from summer 2007 to spring2008. Total RNA was extracted from one milliliter whole blood, and then reversely transcribed using reverse transcriptase. Finally, multiplex RT-PCR was performed for each sample. Results: Cell lines (K562, Jurkat E 6.1) that are harboring known translocations were used as positive control, with additional internal control to prove false negative results. Translocations t (9; 22), t (12; 21), t (1; 19) and t (4; 11) were observed in patients that have been diagnosed with the ALL, respectively. No Translocation has been seen in individuals suffering lymphoma. Conclusion: Multiplex RT-PCR assay is an effective, sensitive, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic tool, which can improve the ability to accurately and rapidly risk-stratify patients that were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.