salicylates and Leukemia--Myelogenous--Chronic--BCR-ABL-Positive

A microtiter well-based quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR assay for determination of BCR-ABL mRNA, which relies on coamplification of the target with an RNA internal standard (IS), was developed. The hapten digoxigenin (Dig) is incorporated during PCR. Target RNA and IS contain identical primer recognition sites and generate same-sized amplification products distinguishable by hybridization with probes specific to the molecules' central part. The hybrids are determined with an anti-Dig-alkaline phosphatase conjugate with fluorosalicylphosphate as substrate. Fluorescent complexes of fluorosalicylate-Tb(III)-EDTA are measured by time-resolved fluorometry. The ratio of fluorescence values for target and IS is linearly related to initial target RNA in the range of 1000 to 200000 molecules. Samples containing K562 total RNA amidst 1 microgram of RNA from normal cells give fluorescence ratios that are linearly related to 30-10000 K562 cells. CVs for 30, 200, and 900 K562 cells are approximately 11%.

Topics: Digoxigenin; Edetic Acid; Fluorescent Dyes; Fluorometry; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; Haptens; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Philadelphia Chromosome; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA Probes; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; RNA, Messenger; Salicylates; Terbium; Tumor Cells, Cultured

A population-based case-control interview study of 486 adult leukemia cases and 502 healthy controls was carried out in Shanghai, People's Republic of China during 1987-89 to evaluate the etiologic role of prior medical conditions, medications, and diagnostic X-rays. Risks were examined separately for 236 cases with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), 79 with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 81 with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and 21 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Little difference was found between cases and controls for prior history of diabetes, hypertension, allergic conditions, most medications, and diagnostic X-rays. A few significant associations were observed for appendectomy, tuberculosis, and for several other chronic disorders with specific leukemia cell types, but the odds ratio estimates for most of these ranged from two to three and, with the exception of the two specified above, were based generally on five or fewer exposed controls. In contrast to an association with childhood leukemia in Shanghai, prior use of chloramphenicol was not linked with ANLL or other forms of adult leukemia. Further research is needed to clarify the relation of specific medical conditions and exposures with particular subtypes of leukemia, and to examine reasons for the low incidence of CLL in China and other Asian populations.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Appendectomy; Case-Control Studies; China; Disease; Female; Humans; Hyperthyroidism; Leukemia; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Population Surveillance; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Risk Factors; Salicylates; Tuberculosis