Immunoglobulin kappa deleting element rearrangements in precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia are stable targets for detection of minimal residual disease by real-time quantitative PCR

Leukemia. 2002 May;16(5):928-36. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2402475.

Abstract

Immunoglobulin gene rearrangements are used as PCR targets for detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We investigated the occurrence of monoclonal immunoglobulin kappa-deleting element (IGK-Kde) rearrangements by Southern blotting and PCR/heteroduplex analysis at diagnosis, their stability at relapse, and their applicability in real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) analysis. In 77 selected children with precursor-B-ALL, Southern blotting detected 122 IGK-Kde rearrangements, 12 of which were derived from subclones in six patients (8%). PCR/heteroduplex analysis with BIOMED-1 Concerted Action primers identified 100 of the 110 major IGK-Kde rearrangements (91%). Comparison between diagnosis and relapse samples from 21 patients with PCR-detectable IGK-Kde rearrangements (using Southern blotting, PCR/heteroduplex analysis, and sequencing) demonstrated that 27 of the 32 rearrangements remained stable at relapse. When patients with oligoclonal IGK-Kde rearrangements were excluded, 25 of the 27 rearrangements remained stable at relapse and at least one stable rearrangement was present in 17 of the 18 patients. Subsequently, RQ-PCR analysis with allele-specific forward primers, a germline Kde TaqMan-probe, and a germline Kde reverse primer was evaluated for 18 IGK-Kde rearrangements. In 16 of the 18 targets (89%) a sensitivity of < or =10(-4) was reached. Analysis of MRD during follow-up of eight patients with IGK-Kde rearrangements showed comparable results between RQ-PCR data and classical dot-blot data. We conclude that the frequently occurring IGK-Kde rearrangements are generally detectable by PCR (90%) and are highly stable MRD-PCR targets, particularly where monoclonal rearrangements at diagnosis (95%) are concerned. Furthermore, most IGK-Kde rearrangements (90%) can be used for sensitive detection of MRD (< or =10(-4)) by RQ-PCR analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Base Sequence
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Gene Rearrangement / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / genetics*
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Neoplasm, Residual / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm, Residual / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / standards
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Recurrence
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains