High Bad and Bax mRNA expression correlate with negative outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
The search for molecular markers in AML that allow prediction of outcome has recently focused on genes involved in the regulation of programmed cell death (PCD). The aim of our study was to determine whether mRNA levels of Mdm-2, Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), Bad, and Bax are independent prognostic parameters for outcome. Transcript levels were analyzed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 232 samples collected either at diagnosis or following induction chemotherapy (ICT). Multivariate COX regression analysis adjusted for chemotherapy protocol, de novo vs secondary AML, and de novo vs relapsed AML indicated: (1) At diagnosis, high expression of Bad (P = 0.015) and even more so high Bax and Bad levels (P = 0.018) predicted adverse outcome, regardless of the response to ICT. In patients who subsequently failed to enter complete remission (CR), high levels of Bad, Bax and Bax high/Bad high were associated with an increased relative risk (RR) to die from tumor (RR = 5.0 for Bad, 3.4 for Bax and 6.14 for Bax high/Bad high). (2) Following ICT, high expression of Bax (P= 0.005) and high Bcl-2/Bax ratios (P = 0.004) were independent predictors of unfavorable outcome, regardless of response to ICT. We conclude that high levels of Bax and Bad correlate with poor outcome, particularly in patients who do not enter CR and may serve as prognostic markers in AML.
Köhler
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T
Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Division of Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig Medical School, Leipzig, Germany.
Schill
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C
Deininger
M W
MW
Krahl
R
R
Borchert
S
S
Hasenclever
D
D
Leiblein
S
S
Wagner
O
O
Niederwieser
D
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003199:Computer Systems; D005260:Female; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494819:BAD protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C497206:MDM2 protein, human; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2