SALL4 Gene Expression in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Objectives: SALL4 gene was aberrantly expressed in many leukemia cell lines and primary leukemia cells of<br /> acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and precursor B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphomas. Its expression may be a<br /> useful marker to predict the diagnosis and the risk stratification of patients with AML. Methods: This study aimed to<br /> characterize the expression pattern of SALL4 gene in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Quantitative Real-time<br /> PCR was used to determine the expression level of the gene in peripheral blood of 52 Egyptian adult AML patients<br /> and 10 healthy control cases. Our study was done in the National Cancer Institute during the period of time between<br /> December 2014 and June 2015. Results: The observed data revealed that none of the studied controls expressed SALL4<br /> > 1.0 RQ and there was a highly statistically significant difference between cases and controls regarding SALL4 gene<br /> expression where all cases showed higher expression of SALL4 than controls with p value SALL4 is one of few genes that bridge the self-renewal properties of ESCs, normal HSCs and LSCs. Their expression<br /> is easily determined by real time PCR. They may be useful markers to predict prognosis and help to stratify patients<br /> into risk adapted groups. Further studies including increasing patient numbers are essential to understand the relations<br /> between SALL4 gene expression and its prognostic impact.