Array-based analysis of gene expression in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Gene expression profiles of 10 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were detected using cDNA arrays. Total RNAs were isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes of the patients at diagnosis. For detection of expression profiles we used Atlas Human Cancer cDNA Arrays (Clontech) with 588 genes. Although the study revealed variability of gene expression in many genes, we identified a number of genes with the same expression changes (up-regulation: PCNA, ERCC1; down-regulation: jun-B, BCL-2 related protein A1, CRAF-1, PBP) in most examined patients. Our objective was to identify genes that were differentially expressed in ALL and might contribute to development (and characterization) of the disease.