Talha Badar: When the Biology Doesn’t Fit the PCR, Trust the Discrepancy
Talha Badar/X

Talha Badar: When the Biology Doesn’t Fit the PCR, Trust the Discrepancy

Talha Badar, Hematology/Oncology Specialist at Mayo Clinic shared a post on X:

“83F with chronic-phase CML on imatinib × 6 years BCR::ABL1 p210 at MR4 – excellent response. But new Ph-related cytogenetic abnormalities prompted deeper investigation.

Qualitative assay revealed the rare e19a2 transcript -> p230 fusion which is invisible to standard p210 PCR.

Pearls:

  • Rare BCR::ABL1 transcripts (p230) evade routine monitoring.
  • Cytogenetic-molecular discordance = investigate atypical transcripts.
  • Morphology + cytogenetics + molecular are complementary – never rely on one alone.

When the biology doesn’t fit the PCR, trust the discrepancy.

Have you encountered p230 or another atypical BCR::ABL1 transcript that changed management?”

Other articles featuring Talha Badar on OncoDaily.