单位:[1]Department of Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China[2]Department of Emergency Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China[3]Department of Hematology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Hepingli, Beijing, P.R. China[4]Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, U.S.A.
Background: The overall prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene-positivity is unfavorable. In this study, we evaluated the expression levels of the MLL gene in AML patients. Material/Methods: We enrolled 68 MLL gene-positive patients out of 433 newly diagnosed AML patients, and 216 bone marrow samples were collected. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) was used to precisely detect the expression levels of the MLL gene. Results: We divided 41 patients into 2 groups according to the variation of MRD (minimal residual disease) level of the MLL gene. Group 1 (n=22) had a rapid reduction of MRD level to <= 10(-4) in all samples collected in the first 3 chemotherapy cycles, while group 2 (n=19) had MRD levels constantly >10(-4) in all samples collected in the first 3 chemotherapy cycles. Group 1 had a significantly better overall survival (p=0.001) and event-free survival (p=0.001) compared to group 2. Moreover, the patients with >10(-4) MRD level before the start of HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) had worse prognosis and higher risk of relapse compared to patients with <= 10(-4) before the start of HSCT. Conclusions: We found that a rapid reduction of MRD level to <= 10(-4) appears to be a prerequisite for better overall survival and event-free survival during the treatment of AML. The MRD levels detected by RQ-PCR were basically in line with the clinical outcome and may be of great importance in guiding early allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) treatment.
基金:
National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [90919044, 81170518]; High and New Technology Program of the PLA [2010gxjs091]; Capital Medical Development Scientific Research Fund [2007-2040]