I agree with Mike. A CML expert recommended in one article to stop using FISH once the Ph percentage is 10% and below and start PCR monitoring. At low levels of 10%Ph+ or less, there is a false positive rate with FISH and since PCR monitoring is the recommended monitoring therapy in minimal residual disease, low levels like 10%Ph+ is a good time to start PCR monitoring.
Like Mike said, PCR can detect one bad cell in a million or more normal cells and quantitative PCR monitoring will give a number which you track. Ideally, it should be going down showing that the disease is responding to Gleevec. The PCR trend is very important to detect molecular relapse. And from the Gleevec Phase III trials also called the IRIS trials, doctors found that patients who reach a 1000-fold reduction in PCR values from diagnosis (if you do not have a diagnosis PCR, it is okay since most labs have a baseline diagnosis PCR value for that lab) in one year have a 100% progression-free survival at 54 months so reaching a 1000-fold reduction in PCRs also called a 3-log reduction gives protection from relapse. Best Wishes, Anjana caregiver to Roy --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to CMLHope@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
