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Previous Volume 340:152-154 January 14, 1999 Number 2 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: Cavé et al. (Aug. 27 issue)¹ report that the detection of residual disease in patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) analysis within six months after the completion of induction therapy predicts relapse and is an independent prognostic factor. The authors conclude that PCR results should be used in planning treatment. It is important to add some cautionary notes to this conclusion.

It is well documented that PCR can have false positive and false negative results.² In the study by Cavé et al., residual leukemia was detected in only 42 percent of patients . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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