title: mRNA overexpression ofBAALC: A novel prognostic factor for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: BAALCis a novel molecular marker in leukemia that is highly expressed in patients with acute leukemia. Increased expression levels ofBAALCare known as poor prognostic factors in adult acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemia. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of theBAALCgene expression levels in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and its association withMDR1. Using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), the mRNA expression levels ofBAALCandMRD1were measured in bone marrow samples of 28 new diagnosed childhood ALL patients and 13 children without cancer. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was measured one year after the initiation of the chemotherapy using the RT-qPCR method. The high level expression ofBAALChad a significant association with the pre-B-ALL subtype, leukocytosis and positive MRD after one year of treatment in leukemic patients. In addition, a positive correlation betweenBAALCandMDR1mRNA expression was shown in this group. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the increase ofBAALCexpression as a poor prognostic factor for childhood ALL is shown for the first time. Additionally, the correlation betweenBAALCandMDR1in mRNA expression levels can aid for an improved understanding of the mechanism through whichBAALCmay function in ALL and multidrug resistance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahgozar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Sayed Al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81856-66153, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moafi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dabaghi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran.
authors.forename: Motahareh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadimi
keywords: ABCB1 gene; BAALC gene; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; multidrug resistance