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Biomedical subjects

U Beer

Publications and source records attributed to U Beer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

No correlation between site of breakpoint in the BCR gene and platelet counts in Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML.

In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) malignant cells are characterised by the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph), resulting from a translocation t(9;22). The position of the breakpoint within the major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr) on chromosome 22 has been shown to correlate with the clinical course of the disease or, more recently, thrombopoietic activity. We have therefore determined the breakpoint localisation in 53 Ph-positive CML patients. Following the 5'/3'-region definition of Inokuchi et al. Leukemia Research 15, 1067 (1991) [1], 22 of our patients have 5' and 31 of our patients have 3' orientated breaks. No correlation was found between platelet counts and breakpoint localisation.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed1991

Minimal residual disease in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia undergoing long-term treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2b alone or in combination with interferon gamma.

Interferon (IFN) therapy has become widely used for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Hematologic remissions can be induced in about 60% of patients. Moreover, in a small number of patients loss of the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome and of the BCR-ABL rearrangement is observed. We have used genomic Southern blotting as well as a two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to score for BCR-ABL messenger RNA (mRNA) in patients with hematologic remission induced by treatment with IFN alpha-2b alone or in combination with IFN gamma. Concomitantly, cytogenetic analysis was performed. In 11 of 115 patients reported here, a complete loss of rearranged BCR fragments was observed in Southern blots of peripheral blood (PB) and/or bone marrow (BM) cell samples. Malignant marker bands disappeared first in the PB. In six patients, this genotype remained stable, whereas in five patients, low-intensity, rearranged bands reappeared despite continuation of treatment. The reappearance of the malignant marker was not accompanied by a clinical relapse. Ph-negative metaphases were observed in PB cells of four patients and in the PB and BM cells of two of these patients. In the samples of the other patients, residual Ph-positive cells were detected. By two-step PCR, residual BCR-ABL rearranged transcripts were found in samples of 10 patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Breakpoint localization within the M-bcr and clinical course do not correlate in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia undergoing alfa interferon therapy.

The breakpoint localization was analyzed in 61 patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive chronic myelogenous leukemia to compare the breakpoint localization and clinical course. All patients were treated with interferon alfa (IFN alpha) or IFN alpha plus IFN gamma at the time of the study. Thirty-three of the patients had been pretreated with other cytostatic drugs. Sixty-nine per cent of the breakpoints were located in the 5' region of the major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr), 29% in the 3' part. There was no significant difference between these two groups with respect to response to IFN(s), clinical course or conversion to blast crisis, nor survival.

Chromosome Fragility↗
PubMed1990

Treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia with interferons alpha and gamma.

A 23-year-old male patient with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) was treated with both IFN alpha and IFN gamma. Normalization of leukocyte counts was reached after 3 months of treatment. Southern blot analysis failed to detect the neoplastic cell clone after 19 months of therapy. Cytogenetically, complete suppression of Ph positive cells in the patient's bone marrow and blood was observed after 20 months and 25 months, respectively. This response was achieved with doses of IFN alpha and IFN gamma which were considerably lower than the dosage of IFN used in single agent therapy of CML.

Adult↗