The BCR-ABL Fusion Gene is found in most people with chronic myelogenous leukemia, and in some people with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute myelogenous leukemia. Also called BCR::ABL fusion gene.
The Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome is an abnormal chromosome that is made when pieces of chromosomes 9 and 22 break off and trade places. The ABL gene from chromosome 9 joins to the BCR gene on chromosome 22 to form the BCR-ABL fusion gene. The changed chromosome 22 with the fusion gene on it is called the Ph chromosome.
In most cases, the fusion involves a reciprocal translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11), which produces the cytogenetically distinctive Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1).
Fusion gene can be detected by Southern (DNA) analysis or by in vitro amplification of the messenger RNA from the fusion gene with polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
