Molecular breakpoint of the BCR-ABL fusion gene has been characterized for 122 chronic myeloid leukemia patients. Out of 122 cases, 33 b2a2, 69 b3a2, 2 e1a2, and 2 e19a2 cases have been detected. Six coexpressed both b2a2 and b3a2 transcripts. All the coexpressing samples had an A>G polymorphism at the putative splice branchpoint in intron 13. The T>C polymorphism in exon 13, reported to be linked to coexpression, was not present in all the coexpressing patients. No correlation of transcript type with platelet count was detected. Those expressing b2a2 transcript were diagnosed at relatively younger age and with higher white blood cell count, in agreement with other reports. However, the correlation was not statistically significant.
(c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.