Quantification of DEK-CAN fusion transcript by real-time reverse transcription polymerase reaction in patients with...

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine DEK-CAN transcript levels in serial samples from three patients with t(6;9) acute myeloid leukemia treated with intensive chemotherapy. All three patients achieved short first clinical remission, but without achieving RT-PCR negativity. DEK-CAN level significantly increased in two patients before relapse, while in the third a level of 2x10(-3) in remission bone marrow preceded relapse by 2 months.