METHODS FOR THE DETECTION OF BCR-ABL AND ABNORMAL ABL PROTEINS IN LEUKEMIA PATIENTS

摘要

The present invention provides methods for detecting and quantitating BCR-ABL gene products and other abnormal ABL gene products of Ph1-positive leukemic cells. The invention further provides methods for determining the relative number of leukemic cells compared with normal ABL cells to assess the tumor burden of a patient. In another aspect, the methods of the present invention can be used to determine a specific phase of leukemia, particularly chronic-phase CML.