[Expression and clinical significance of anti-apoptosis gene, survivin, in acute leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the correlation between expression of surviving gene in acute leukemic cells and its clinical effects.


METHODS
By using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, surviving gene expression in 50 previously untreated acute leukemia (AL) patients was analysed. The apoptosis of primary leukemia cells cultured in vitro was assayed with terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).


RESULTS
Surviving gene expression levels in cells of AL patients at diagnosis were significantly higher than that in normal bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) (82.0% vs 33.3%, P < 0.05). The expression level was higher in ALL cells than in ANLL cells (89.5% vs 75.0%). Among 22 cases of ANLL, bone marrow remission (BMR) rate was higher in surviving gene negative expression cells from patients accepted a course of chemotherapy than in positive expression cells (83.3% vs 25.0%, P = 0.023). Among 13 ANLL patients received a course of HA regimen chemotherapy, the BMR was higher in patients surviving mRNA negative expression cells than in positive cells (100.0% vs 27.3%). Patients with surviving/beta-actin ratio>0.6 attained lower BMR.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher expression level of surviving mRNA in AL cells may be one of the reasons that leukemic cells are insensitive to chemotherapy.
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Maofang
M
Lin
Xiaoli
X
Meng
Zhen
Z
Cai
Xiujin
X
Ye
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012074:Remission Induction; D000077022:Survivin; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077022:Survivin