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. 2010 Feb 19;107(7):114–121. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2010.0114

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Relationship between leukemia burden, response and number of bcr-abl transcripts in the peripheral blood of CML patients (adapted according to [1] and [15]). When the disease burden decreases, the first change is that the blood count returns to normal (hematological response). Cytogenetic response documents the decrease in Philadelphia-positive metaphases in the bone marrow. Molecular response demonstrates the decrease in bcr-abl transcripts in the peripheral blood or bone marrow. After a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) has been achieved, bcr-abl monitoring is required, using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Molecular response is expressed as the ratio of bcr-abl to control genes (bcr-abl ratio) or as the “log reduction” in comparison to a standard (14). CMR, complete molecular response; bcr-abl transcripts not detectable, i.e. qRT-PCR and nested PCR negative).