@article{3082653,
    title = "Efficiency of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization for BCR/ABL
on peripheral blood smears for monitoring of CML patients: a comparison
with bone marrow findings",
    author = "Akel, S and Kolialexi, A and Mavrou, A and Metaxotou, C and Loukopoulos, and D and Yataganas, X",
    journal = "CLINICAL AND LABORATORY HAEMATOLOGY",
    year = "2002",
    volume = "24",
    number = "6",
    pages = "361-367",
    publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",
    doi = "10.1046/j.1365-2257.2002.00470.x",
    keywords = "chronic myeloid leukemia; fluorescence in situ hybridization;
immunophenotyping; T lymphocytes; BCR/ABL",
    abstract = "Conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA) is the standard method for
monitoring of the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome in chronic myeloid
leukemia (CML). Evaluation of breakpoint cluster region/abelson murine
leukemia (BCR/ABL) fusion using interphase fluorescence in situ
hybridization on peripheral blood smears (PB-FISH) might be another
approach allowing more frequent and less invasive follow-up
investigations. Herein, BCR/ABL fusion gene was assessed on 21 PB smears
from 16 CML patients in chronic phase. Results of PB-FISH were compared
with those of CCA and interphase FISH on bone marrow aspirates
(BM-FISH). PB-FISH analysis was combined with CD3 immunophenotyping that
allowed simultaneous investigation of the leukemic status of CD3(+) T
lymphocytes and scoring CD3(-) cells for BCR/ABL fusion gene. Moreover,
the frequency of BCR/ABL fusion in nonlymphoid PB cells was estimated
according to the differential leukocyte counts. The incidence of
BCR/ABL(+) fusion signals in CD3(+) T cells of CML patients was 5.3%
(SD+/-1.9) and did not exceed the normal cut-off value of 8%. A
significant correlation (P<0.001) was found between results of PB-FISH
and methods of BM analysis (CCA or BM-FISH). Correction of PB-FISH
results to include only nonlymphoid or CD3(-) cells reduced the mean of
differences and improved agreement between PB-FISH and CCA or BM-FISH
methods. The best agreement was noted between CCA and PB-FISH on
nonlymphoid cells. On the other hand, results of BM-FISH agreed well
with those of PB-FISH on CD3(-) cells. These findings imply that PB-FISH
on nonlymphoid or CD3(-) cells is reliable and may replace BM analysis
for monitoring of response to treatment in CML patients."
}