Rapid detection of chimeric bcr/abl mRNAs in acute lymphoblastic and chronic myeloid leukemia by the polymerase chain reaction

Summary We have developed a rapid method for the detection of bcr/abl mRNAs, the products of the BCR/ABL fusion genes. The method is based on the polymerasechain-reaction (PCR). Through the use of additional internal primers it is possible to detect directly a single Ph¹-positive cell among 10⁵ unaffected cells thus omitting time-consuming blotting procedures. The whole analytical procedure starting from RNA isolation to agarose gel electrophoresis including two rounds of PCR can be performed in less than six hours.Supported by the Wilhelm Sander-Stiftung, Neustadt/Donau and the Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft, Landesverband Berlin