title: Molecular characterization and prognostic significance of FLT3 in CML progression.
abstract: To characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in the transition from the chronic phase to blast crisis in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), gene expression profiles of leukemic cells from patients in the chronic and blast crisis phases were analyzed using an 8.7K cDNA chip and real-time PCR. A transient transfection analysis was conducted to evaluate the role of FLT3, which was significantly upregulated in the blast crisis patients. Abl and c-Kit induction was detected in K562 cells transfected with FLT3 cDNA (K562/FLT3), and Abl and c-Kit levels were reduced in K562/FLT3 cells transfected with FLT3-siRNA (K562/FLT3-siRNA). The induction of FLT3 in CML cells attenuated imatinib-induced apoptosis. The opposite effect was observed in K562/FLT3-siRNA cells. An increased level of cleaved PARP and decreased level of pro-caspase 3 were noted when K562/FLT3-siRNA cells were treated with imatinib. These findings indicate that FLT3 is associated with disease progression, despite imatinib therapy. These results may help in the prediction of disease progression in CML patients and the development of more appropriate therapeutic modalities.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanak 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Im
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Juwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kwang-Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Nam-Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Byoung Kook
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wan Gyoon
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Sung-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jung Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D020014:K562 Cells; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051941:fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; C497970:FLT3 protein, human; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D051941:fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl