[Clinical significance of multidrug resistance gene(mdr1) expression in patients with acute leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate relationship between drug resistance of leukemia cells and prognosis.


METHODS
The expression of multidrug resistance gene(mdr1) mRNA was measured in 85 patients with acute leukemia and in 20 normal controls by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The mdr1 positive rate in untreated group was 44.7%. The CR rate differed significantly between mdr1+ (23.9%) and mdr1-(88.5%)(P < 0.005). The mdr1 positive rate of refractory-relapsed group was higher than that in CR group (P < 0.001). The mdr1 mRNA expression level of refractory-relapsed group was higher than that in CR group. A gradually increasing level of mdr1 mRNA expression in CR patients indicated early relapse. The mdr1 positive rate in normal contral and long-term surviver patients was very low. The mdr1 expression was correlated with French-American-Birtish Cooperative Group (FAB) classification.


CONCLUSIONS
The mdr1 expression correlated with chemotherapeutic effect and prognosis. It is an unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with acute leukemia.
Dong
Z
Z
Research Laboratory of Hematology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang.
Luo
J
J
Xu
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D019450:Genes, MDR; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics*; D015479:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis