OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) mRNA in the patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and to analyze the retationship between the mRNA expression of DNMT and cellular and moleculogenetic risk stratifieation in AML patients, and to evaluate the role of the DNMT mRNA expression in AML prognosis and clinical treatment.

METHODSThe mRNA expression of DNMT was detected by real-time PCR in 123 AML patients and 20 healthy people.

RESULTSthe mRNA expression levels of DNMT were lower in the healthy people and higher in AML patients; the mRNA expression levels of DNMT in the patients after the consolidation therapy were lower than that in the patients of initial diagnosis and replapse; The mRNA expression levels of DNMT did not correlate with age, sex and the clinical characteristics at initial diagnosis, such as white blood cell count, FAB classification and chromosomal karyotype in AML patients. In CR patients after standard treatment, the initial mRNA expression level of DNMT3b was higher. Based on cellular and moleculogenetic risk stratificantion, the DNMT expression level in the intermediate risk AML patients was higher.

CONCLUSIONThe mRNA expression of DNMT may play an important role in AML pathogenesis and can serve as an index for evaluating AML prognosis and for instructing clinical treatment.