Changes in expression of apoptosis-related genes are linked to the molecular response to imatinib treatment in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients.
Most patients with a chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated with imatinib mesylate achieve a cytogenetic remission, but in the majority, residual disease is detectable by RT-PCR. The mechanisms by which residual leukemic cells survive imatinib treatment are unresolved. However, induction of apoptosis in leukemic stem cells and immunotherapy are currently under investigation. We studied the mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic-phase CML patients before imatinib treatment. It was found that their BCL2 and BAD expression was significantly different compared to the normal controls, and a lower BAD expression was associated with a better molecular response to imatinib treatment at 12 months.
Wei
Yuan
Y
Department of Internal Medicine/Haematology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Stockelberg
Dick
D
Hullberg
Sara
S
Ricksten
Anne
A
Wadenvik
Hans
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001549:Benzamides; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis
C494819:BAD protein, human; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl