[Detection of chromosome translocation t(9;22) using RT-PCR].

The investigation deals with a simplified modification or molecular-genetic detection of translocation t(9;22) using a combination of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR). Unlike the available protocols, analysis is carried out using one enzyme--TET-Z polymerase--(instead of two) which has both revertase and DNA-polymerase activities. The present modification is highly sensitive, less time-consuming and cheaper.

[Is the cytogenetic verification of chronic myeloleukemia always obligatory?].

To elucidate feasibility of accurate diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) without cytogenetic and molecular-genetic investigations as well as to specify CML diagnostic criteria, clinicohematological parameters were compared in two groups of patients: with Ph'-chromosome and/or rearrangement of fragment bcr (group 1), with unknown karyotype in whom detection of bcr fragment rearrangement was not made. Clinicohematological parameters in both groups were close in absolute value and underwent parallel changes in the course of leukemia progression. In group 1, patients in progressive and blastic phase compared to patients in chronic phase had a 14-fold increase in the number of additional cytogenetic anomalies.

[The prognostic role of determining spontaneous leukocyte DNA damage and that occurring during chemotherapy in leukemia patients].

The authors studied spontaneous DNA damages and the extra plan synthesis of DNA in various leukemias (chronic lympholeukemia, chronic myeloleukemia, acute leukemia) to predict the natural course of leukemias and the efficiency of chemotherapy. The level of genuine DNA breaks, which had been determined by the nic-translation test, was lower in peripheral blood cell DNA in all leukemias than that in the lymphocytes and granulocytes from donors. On the contrary, the levels of alkaline-labile DNA sites and nuclear matrix protein-bound DNA in the mature and maturing leukemia cells are high and decrease with progression of chronic lympholeukemia and chronic myeloleukemia.