The Potential of Exosomes Derived from Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia Cells as a Biomarker.

Background/aim: Exosomes, derived from chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) cells, can be used as biomarkers and new targets for the detection of the BCR-ABL transcript. This study aimed to identify these possibilities.

Materials And Methods: Human CML cell line-derived exosomes and CML-patients-derived exosomes were isolated with a size-exclusion chromatography column and ExoQuick™ exosome precipitation solution, respectively. Isolated exosomes were analysed by nested PCR to detect the BCR-ABL transcript.

Results: Exosomes derived from the two human CML cell lines yielded a 250-bp band. RNA sequence analysis revealed 99% sequence homology with the partial mRNA for the human BCR-ABL chimeric protein. This ~250-bp band was also observed in the exosomes derived from patients with CML. However, only patients at the blast and accelerated phases showed the exosomal BCR-ABL transcript.

Conclusion: CML-derived exosomes could act as novel targets for the detection of the BCR-ABL transcript.