Comparison of BM and PB samples from FLT3ITD–positive patients.

Exons 14 and 15 of the FLT3 gene were PCR amplified from diagnostic BM and PB specimens from 5 patients with FLT3ITDs, and PCR products were resolved on a 2.5% LMP agarose gel. Percentages of BM and PB blast cells are shown below the gel. Although the proportion of PB blast cells was considerably lower in 4 of 5 patients, BM and PB samples were indistinguishable on LMP gel electrophoresis. WT indicates samples from a patient withoutFLT3 ITD; 1-5, samples from 5 different AML patients withFLT3 ITDs; and ?, the percentage of BM blasts was unknown in the patient.