en Hematology Hematology Original Article Original Article <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Background:</em></strong></span> A specific chromosomal abnormality, the Philadelphia chromosome (BCR-ABL fusion), is present in all patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The b2a2 and b3a2 fusion mRNAs encode p210 fusion protein p210 and e1a2 encode p190. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of BCR-ABL fusion transcript variants in Northeast of Iranian CML patients and to compare the laboratory results of our patients.<br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Methods</em></strong><em>:</em> </span>This study was conducted in 85 peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of CML patients. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted by a commercial kit, RT- PCR for identifying BCR-ABL fusions was carried out by using designed primers and the PCR products were electrophoresed in agarose gels. Finally, statistical analysis was performed for variant frequency identification and their comparison was performed.<br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Results:</em></strong></span> All patients examined were positive for BCR/ABL rearrangement.&nbsp;Fusion of b3a2 was detected in 53 (62.35%) patients, b2a2 in 25 (29.41), e1a2 in 1 (1.17%) and coexpression of b3a2 and e1a2 in 6 (7.05%) patients. There were significant differences between the mean age in patients with b3a2 positive ( 44.07 years) and in b3a2 negative group (50.35 years) however, no significant differences were seen between sex and b2a2 (P=0.61), b3a2 (P=0.79) and e1a2 (P=0.20).<br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Conclusions:</em> </strong></span>This study showed higher frequency b3a2 than b2a2 and e1a2 transcripts in CML patients in Northeast Iran and there was no association between e1a2 transcripts frequencies and monocytosis in peripheral blood</span></span><p style="margin-left:-7.2pt;"></p><p style="margin-left:-7.2pt;"></p><p style="margin-left:-7.2pt;"></p> BCR-ABL, RT-PCR, chronic myeloid leukemia, Iran 65 70 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-588-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Hossein Ayatollahi ayatollahih@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460011147 100319475328460011147 No Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohammadreza Keramati keramatimr@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460011148 100319475328460011148 No Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Abbass Shirdel SHIRDELA@MUMS.AC.IR 100319475328460011149 100319475328460011149 No Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohammadmehdi Kooshyar kooshyarmm@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460011150 100319475328460011150 No Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Majid Raeiszadeh raeiszadehm2@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460011151 100319475328460011151 No Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Sepideh Shakeri ssh.shakeri@gmail.com 100319475328460011152 100319475328460011152 No Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohammadhadi Sadeghian sadeghianmh@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460011153 100319475328460011153 Yes Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Fatemeh Shams shams8869@yahoo.com 100319475328460011154 100319475328460011154 No Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran