[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.
Lin
Maofang
M
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Meng
Xiaoli
X
Cai
Zhen
Z
Ye
Xiujin
X
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