title: Expression of microRNA-181 determines response to treatment with azacitidine and predicts survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in cell differentiation and survival. Abnormal expression of miRs has been demonstrated in numerous types of cancer, including acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The aim of the present study was to evaluate miR-181 expression at diagnosis and following the completion of chemotherapy in AML patients, with regard to clinical response and outcome, particularly in patients treated with azacitidine. miR-181 expression was analysed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 95 bone marrow specimens from newly diagnosed AML patients and in 20 healthy subjects for comparison. The results revealed upregulated miR-181 expression in the total cohort of AML patients, which was correlated with longer survival. However, in a subset of older AML patients treated with azacitidine, low miR-181 expression at diagnosis was a predictor for complete remission and prolonged survival. The findings indicated that miR-181 has an important role in AML and determines response to azacitidine treatment in older AML patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Blood Neoplasms and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw 50-367, Poland; Department of Physiology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw 50-367, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Butrym
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Blood Neoplasms and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw 50-367, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rybka
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Molecular Techniques Unit, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw 50-345, Poland.
authors.forename: Dagmara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baczyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw 50-556, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poręba
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw 50-556, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Blood Neoplasms and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw 50-367, Poland.
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuliczkowski
keywords: acute myeloid leukemia; azacitidine; expression; miR-181; remission; response; survival