[Expression of Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) in leukemias and its clinical implication].
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the expression of Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) in leukemias and its clinical implication.


METHODS
Expression of WT1 mRNA was detected in four leukemia cell lines, 25 AML patients, 11 ALL patients, 9 CML patients, 15 healthy subjects and 10 non-blood diseases patients by using RT-PCR.


RESULTS
WT1 mRNA expression was revealed in K562, HL-60 and TF-1 cell lines, 21 of 25 (84%) AML patients, 8 of 11 (73%) ALL patients, 2 CML patients in blast crisis and 1 of 7 CML patients in accelerated and chronic phase. WT1 mRNA was undetectable in PBMNC from 15 healthy subjects and in bone marrow cells from 10 non-blood diseases patients.


CONCLUSIONS
WT1 gene is expressed in the majority of acute leukemias and thus is involved in human leukemogenesis. WT1 is also a new important marker for monitoring MRD in acute leukemias.
General Hospital of PLA, Beijing.
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Wu
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Wang
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Pei
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016162:Genes, Wilms Tumor; D018922:HL-60 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020014:K562 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D025721:WT1 Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025721:WT1 Proteins