| Objective To investigate the expression of PRAME gene (preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma) in adult acute leukemia and its clinical significance. Methods The expression of the PRAME gene was measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 73 adult acute leukemia patients with newly diagnosed, three patients relapsed, eight bone marrow samples of health donors and seven bone marrow samples of patients with ITP( Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura), as well as two AL cell-lines(K562 and U937).Results PRAME mRNA was expressed in 42.9% (n=24) AML patients and 20% (n=4)ALL patients, also in two leukemia cell-lines K562 and U937, but not in eight health donors and seven ITP patients. PRAME expression was not correlated to the white blood count, hemoglobin, platelet count and the percentage of blasts at diagnosis, yet independent of age, sex, and FAB type. The complete remission group appeared having a much higher PRAME mRNA expression than partial complete remission group and died group. The increased levels of expression could be found prior to the relapse in one patient who was regularly monitored.Conclusions PRAME gene was overexpressed in adult acute leukemia patients and leukemia cell-lines. The expression of PRAME is an indicator of favorable prognosis and could be a useful tool for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) in adult acute leukemia. Differential expression in adult acute leukemia patients vs. healthy volunteers suggests that the immunogenic antigens PRAME are potential candidates for immunotherapy in adult acute leukemia. PRAME gene might be involved in the intercellular signaling pathways in cell proliferation. |
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