OBJECTIVETo investigate HOXB4, PRDM16 and HOXA9 gene expression in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its clinical significance.

METHODSReal-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) with SYBR Green assay was used to detect the expression of HOXB4, PRDM16 and HOXA9 gene in AML patients (40 cases), the patients with complete remission (9 cases) and patients with non-malignant hematologic diseases as control (10 cases). The relationship between the expression levels of gene HOXB4, PRDM16, HOXA9 and clinical features was investigated by statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe gene expression levels of HOXB4, PRDM16, HOXA9 in newly diagnosed or relapsed AML patients were significantly higher than those in patients with non-malignant hematologic disease (P < 0.05). It was observed that the expression of HOXB4 gene in newly diagnosed or relapsed patients positively correlates with leukemic blasts in bone marrow (r = 0.39). The expression levels of HOXB4, PRDM16 and HOXA9 positively correlate with each other. There was statistical significance among gene expressions in different phases (newly diagnosed, relapse, remission). No correlation was observed between expression levels of HOXB4, PRDM16, HOXA9 and chromosome risk status. It was noticed that expression levels of HOXB4, PRDM16, HOXA9 genes were lower in the patients achieved remission after two courses of chemotherapy than those in the other. And high expression group of each gene had a lower remission rate than that in the low expression group.

CONCLUSIONThe expression level of HOXB4, PRDM16, HOXA9 genes and leukemic blasts somewhat correlate with curative effect and prognosis. The expression of HOXB4, PRDM16, HOXA9 genes is higher in newly diagnosed and relapsed leukemia patients, and lower in the patients acquired CR/PR. High expression of HOXB4, PRDM16, HOXA9 genes predicts an adverse prognosis.