title: Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) expression correlates with vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF) in newly acute leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today, leukemia is one of the biggest problems worldwide. The Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene are highly expressed in patients with various cancers. This study concerned the relationship between expression of WT1 and VEGF in patients with acute leukemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated expression of WT1 mRNA and VEGF mRNA using real-time quantitative RT-PCR in the peripheral blood (PB) of 8 newly diagnosed AML and 4 newly diagnosed ALL patients, serially monitored for 2 months. A further 12 normal PB samples served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the patient group, in comparison with the normal ranges, WT1 and VEGF gene expression was increased, the average values for the expression of these two genes being 0.2852±0.11 and 0.2029±0.018, respectively. While was no significant relevance between the two genes pre-treatment, a positive link between the two genes in 75% of patients with AML was noted during the procedure of chemotherapy, whereas in 75% of patients with ALL an antiparallel association was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leukemia is associated with production of WT1, which may affect the expression of VEGF.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, E-mail : akhodadadi2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iranparast
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Assarehzadegan
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Heike
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hossienzadeh
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khodadadi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D016162:Genes, Wilms Tumor; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D025721:WT1 Proteins; C583751:WT1 protein, human