| Description: |
Translocation of the ABL gene on chromosome 9 to the BCR gene on chromosome 22 creates a chimeric BCR-ABL gene [the Philadelphia chromosome or t(9;22)]. This transcriptionally active gene encodes a fusion protein, which is leukemogenic. Quantitative detection of this fusion gene by real-time PCR can be useful both diagnostically and in assessing residual disease following therapeutic interventions. The results are expressed as a ratio of the #BCR-ABL transcripts/#ABL transcripts. |