Application of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement-derived real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in monitoring minimal residual disease of B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia

Objective To establish a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia according to individualized and specific immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in leukemia cells, and to use it for the monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) of B-cell lymphocytic leukemia. Methods The immunoglobulin gene rearrangements of bone marrow samples from 15 cases of B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia were analyzed with a validated European BIOMED-2 system, and the individualized and specific qPCR-based quantification of leukemic immunoglobulin gene rearrangements was established. Results Unique and specific gene rearrangements of immunoglobulin light and heavy chains were identified in 14 cases and Ig-qPCR based on these gene rearrangements had a sensitivity of 10-5 and high specificity which met the international criteria in 10 patients. Leukemia MRD quantification with immunoglobulin gene rearrangement-based qPCR was similar as compared with other MRD detection methods. Conclusion Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement-based leukemia MRD quantification is feasible, sensitive, specific, precise and much valuable for clinical decision of treatments in B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. Key words: Leukemia, B-cell; Neoplasm, residual; Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement; Polymerase chain reaction