Related Experiment Videos
Gene marking and autologous bone marrow transplantation
M K Brenner1, D R Rill, R C Moen
1Department of Hematology/Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|May 31, 1994
Summary
Gene marking of bone marrow cells in children with leukemia or neuroblastoma confirmed that remission marrow can cause relapse after autologous transplantation. This technique aids in evaluating pretransplant purging strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gene Therapy
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Background:
- Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) is a common treatment for pediatric cancers.
- Identifying the source of relapse after ABMT is crucial for treatment optimization.
- Assessing the safety and efficacy of gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells is important for future therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if residual cancer cells in autologous bone marrow transplants contribute to disease relapse.
- To evaluate the feasibility and safety of gene marking in pediatric patients undergoing ABMT.
- To assess the potential of gene marking for tracking cell populations post-transplant.
Main Methods:
- Bone marrow cells from 20 children (12 with acute myeloid leukemia, 8 with neuroblastoma) in remission were genetically modified using a retroviral vector carrying the neomycin-resistance gene (NeoR).
- Modified cells were reinfused into patients as part of ABMT.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the NeoR marker in cells from relapsed patients.
Main Results:
- The NeoR marker was detected in resurgent cells from all relapsed patients (2 AML, 3 neuroblastoma).
- This indicates that the genetically marked remission bone marrow contributed to the relapse.
- The study demonstrated successful gene transfer and expression in human bone marrow cells.
Conclusions:
- Remission bone marrow, when used in autologous transplants, can be a source of cancer recurrence.
- Gene marking is a viable tool for tracing the origin of relapse after ABMT.
- This technique is being utilized to refine pretransplant purging methods to improve transplant outcomes.