[Expression of BCL2L12 gene in de novo acute myeloid leukemia and its clinical implications].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of BCL2L12 gene and its clinical significance for de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML).


METHODS
Real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) was employed to measure the expression of BCL2L12 gene in 134 patients with de novo AML. The results were correlated with clinical features of patients.


RESULTS
BCL2L12 gene transcript was determined for 134 AML patients and 49 healthy controls, with the median levels measured 0.1029 (0.0119-26.4090) and 0.2677 (0.0173-1.2858), respectively. There was a significant difference in the strength of BCL2L12 gene expression between patients and normal controls (P < 0.01). Those with lower BCL2L12 expression levels had a higher FLT3-ITD mutation rate compared with those with higher levels (27% vs. 5%, P = 0.036). Relapsed or refractory AML patients had lower expression compared with newly diagnosed patients (0.0873 vs. 0.1359, P = 0.014). There was no difference in overall survival (OS) between patients with higher and lower expression levels. However, for AML patients with a normal karyotype, the OS for those with lower expression was significant shorter (P = 0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
De novo AML patients have a lower level of BCL2L12 gene expression. AML patients with lower BCL2L12 expression have a higher FLT3-ITD mutation rate, and most of them are relapse or refractory patients. In addition, among patients with a normal karyotype, those with a lower BCL2L12 expression have a shorter OS. Therefore, expression of the BCL2L12 gene may be used as a prognostic marker for AML patients with a normal karyotype.
Ningbo University Medical School, Department of Hematology, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315000, P. R. China. Email: jiej@mail.hz.zj.cn.
Meng-xia
MX
Yu
Ying
Y
Lu
Qi-tian
QT
Mu
Qiong
Q
Wang
Zhi-mei
ZM
Chen
Ji-yu
JY
Lou
Jie
J
Jin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult; D051941:fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics
C430100:BCL2L12 protein, human; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C497970:FLT3 protein, human; D051941:fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3