ZytoLight ® SPEC BCR/ABL1 Dual Color Dual Fusion Probe

 The ZytoLight ® SPEC BCR/ABL1 Dual Color Dual Fusion Probe is designed for the detection of the specific translocations involving the chromosomal region 9q34.12 harboring the ABL1 (a.k.a ABL) gene, and the chromosomal region 22q11.23, harboring the BCR (a.k.a. BCR1) gene. Rearrangements involving t(9;22) (q34.1;q11.2) are observed in approx. 90% of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and in approx. 25% of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The rearrangements are cytogenetically characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. The translocation frequently results in the formation of a chimeric BCR/ABL1 fusion gene on the derivative chromosome 22. The gene product is a BCR/ABL1 protein with abnormal tyrosine kinase activity. In normal cells, ABL1 kinase activity is finely regulated in response to growth factors and other stimuli. The BCR/ABL1 fusion protein leads to constitutive activation of down-stream signaling pathways, including Ras, Jak/Stat and PI-3 kinase. In rare cases the BCR/ABL1 fusion gene is located on chromosomal sites other than the Ph chromosome.