[The importance of WT1 gene expression in the detection of minimal residual disease. A comparison of WT1 AML1/MTG8 transcripts].
The Wilms tumor gene (WT1) has been reported to be a prognostic factor and a marker for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute leukemia. Using competitive polymerase chain reaction procedures, we examined the expression of the WT1 gene in acute leukemia patients with several tumor-specific DNA markers, including bcr/abl, PML/RAR alpha, and AML1/MTG8. A strong correlation was observed between the levels of WT1 and PML/RAR alpha expression. However, AML1/MTG8 transcripts were detected at all stages of the disease even when the expression level of WT1 gene was low. From these findings, we concluded that monitoring the WT1 expression level is a useful means of determining the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and that WT1 is an effective marker for the detection of MRD, especially in acute myeloid leukemia patients with AML1/MTG8.
Kusumoto
S
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Saitama Medical School.
Murohashi
I
I
Bessho
M
M
Matsumoto
H
H
Shimazu
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000097:blood; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016162:Genes, Wilms Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D000075142:RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000235:genetics*
C107844:AML1-ETO fusion protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D000075142:RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl