1.The Msi2 Protein Expression Positive Correlation with Favorable Cytogenetics Findings in AML
Omayma Seb ; Nurasyikin Y ; Azma Rz ; Suria Aa ; Chandramaya S ; Noraidah M
Medicine and Health 2017;12(1):66-82
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is the most common subtype of acute leukaemias
with a poor outcome. Msi2 protein is a newly discovered prognostic marker and
it has been considered as a new target for therapy in AML. The study of Msi2
protein expression in AML cases has not been performed in Malaysia, to date.
The main aim of the present study was to observe the expression of Msi2 protein
in AML patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and to correlate its expression
with the well-established prognostic and clinical parameters in AML as well as
the overall survival (OS). Sixty four bone marrow trephine biopsy sections were
immunostained for Msi2 protein. The percentage of blasts with positive reaction
and the intensity of the cytoplasmic and nuclear staining were evaluated. The
expression of Msi2 protein was found in 95.3% cases with Msi2 pattern varying
between the cases. In 71.9% of cases, the blasts showed total cellular positivity and
23.4% cases showed only cytoplasmic positivity. Majority showed high expression
of Msi2 for cytoplasmic staining. Interestingly, there was significant correlation
between total cellular staining and the intermediate cytogenetic subgroup (P=
0.04). In conclusion, the results showed that the majority of the patients had high
expression of Msi2 but this did not correlate to OS. However, the Msi2 expression
correlated to the cytogenetic findings. The results suggest future extensive research
to be conducted in order to ascertain the exact role of Msi2 positive blast cells in
AML in our population and their association with prognosis and outcome.