Quantitative and qualitative PCR analysis of MRD for patients receiving primary induction therapy for childhood ALL.

Bone marrow or peripheral blood lymphocyte samples from 16 patients were examined. (A) Plot showing quantitative and qualitative MRD analysis for patients remaining in remission. Mean values of IgH/GAPDH normalized for quantification reactions performed in triplicate are shown plotted against sample therapeutic time frame. Qualitative seminested PCR results for MRD in the same patient samples demonstrated persistence of PCR-detectable MRD throughout the period of treatment examined. (B) Plot showing quantitative and qualitative MRD analysis for patients who relapsed. Qualitative PCR results for the same samples are shown below.