OBJECTIVETo explore the expression and clinical significance of Musashi2 (MSI2) gene in de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSReal-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) was used to measure the expression of MSI2 gene in 181 de novo AML patients. Correlation between the expression level and clinical features of such patients was explored.

RESULTSTranscript of the MSI2 gene was detected in 181 AML patients, with the median expression level being 2.341 (0.1124-58.8566). By contrast, CD34+ cells from 10 healthy controls had a much lower expression level (P=0.012), and the expression level of MSI2 in 24 patients with complete remission was significant lower than de novo patients (P=0.021). Based on the median expression level, such patients were divided into low expression group and high expression group. Patients from the high expression group had significantly higher rate of high white blood cell count (78% vs. 63%, P=0.034). Compared with MSI2-low group, FLT3-ITD mutation were much more common in MSI2-high group (28% vs. 7%, P=0.002). The expression level of MSI2 in aberrant karyotypes was much higher than that in favorable karyotypes (the median expression level was 2.7726 and 2.0733, P=0.035). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overall survival in high expression group of MSI2 was lower than the low expression group, with the median survival time being 28 months and 12 months, respectively (P=0.045).

CONCLUSIONDe novo AML patients have a higher level of MSI2 gene expression. And the latter is much more common in those with high white blood cell count and aberrant karyotypes, and has a positive correlation with FLT3-ITD mutation. High expression of MSI2 gene may be a predictor for poorer prognosis among AML patients.