[The significance of quantification of MDR1 and WT1 gene expression in acute myeloid leukemia].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the quantification of MDR1 and WT1 gene expression in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to explore the role of these two genes in clinical drug resistance and their correlation with risk stratification. METHODS: A real time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method was established for detecting MDR1 and WT1 gene expression levels in 63 de novo AML patients. RESULTS: The expression of WT1 and MDR1 was significantly higher in de novo AML patients than in normal controls (P < 0.001). WT1 levels were significantly correlated with corresponding levels of MDR1 gene in de novo AML patients (P = 0.004). Expression levels of WT1 and MDR1 gene were not associated with FAB subtype and risk stratification (P > 0.05). AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutations had a significantly higher WT1 expression level as compared to with those without (P < 0.05), on the contrary MDR1 expression was not associated with FLT3-ITD mutations (P > 0.05). Patients with co-expression of high levels of WT1 and MDR1 had a significantly lower complete remission rate after induction therapy than those with low levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a positive correlation between MDR1 gene expression and WT1 gene expression in AML. Quantification of the two gene expression together is more effective for judgement of prognosis in AML.