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[Expression of PRAME gene in acute leukemia and its clinical significance]
Yu-Lin Zhu1, Jing Liu, Ping Zhu
1Laboratory of Hematology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Abstract:
This study was aimed to detect the expression levels of preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME) gene in acute leukemia (AL) and to evaluate the clinical significance of PRAME gene. The quantitative detection method was established by SYBR Green I real-time quantitative RT-PCR, then PRAME mRNA was measured by this method in 55 cases of acute leukemia, out of which 43 cases were acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 9 cases were acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and other types leukemia were 3 cases. In addition, expression of PRAME gene was also analyzed in 7 cases of non-malignant hematological diseases and 8 healthy volunteers. K562 cell line was used as a positive control. The results showed that the expression of PRAME gene was found in 35 cases of acute leukemia, the positive percentage was 64%. No expression could be detected in any of the non-malignant hematological diseases and healthy volunteers. In 35 PRAME positive cases, 28 cases were AML, which mainly belonged to M3, M4 and M2 subtypes, and 5 cases was ALL. In 31 fusion gene positive cases, 23 cases were PRAME positive, and in 24 fusion gene negative cases 12 cases were PRAME positive. No significant relationship was found between PRAME expression level and clinical characteristics (age, sex, WBC count, blast cells in BM). The expression of PRAME gene decreased or disappeared in 6 patients achieving complete remission (CR). It is concluded that the PRAME gene expresses in 64% AML patients, which mainly belonged to M3, M4 and M2 subtypes, no expression could be detected in any of the non-malignant hematological diseases and healthy volunteers. There is remarkable difference in the level of PRAME transcript of the 35 cases and the expression of PRAME gene decreases or disappears when the patients achieved complete remission. These results suggest that PRAME expression in acute leukemia may be a useful marker to detect the minimal resi-dual disease (MRD) and to determine the response to therapy in AL patients.
Insights
Preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME) gene is expressed in 64% of acute leukemia patients, particularly in acute myeloid leukemia subtypes M3, M4, and M2. PRAME expression decreases with remission, suggesting its utility in monitoring minimal residual disease.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Hematology
Context:
- Acute leukemia (AL) is a group of hematological malignancies characterized by rapid proliferation of abnormal blood cells.
- Accurate detection and monitoring of AL are crucial for effective treatment and prognosis.
- Preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME) is a gene implicated in various cancers.
Purpose:
- To quantify the expression levels of the PRAME gene in acute leukemia patients.
- To evaluate the clinical significance of PRAME gene expression in AL.
- To assess PRAME as a potential biomarker for minimal residual disease (MRD) and treatment response.
Summary:
- A SYBR Green I real-time quantitative RT-PCR method was developed to measure PRAME mRNA.
- PRAME gene expression was detected in 64% of 55 AL cases (43 AML, 9 ALL, 3 other), with no expression in non-malignant hematological diseases or healthy volunteers.
- PRAME expression was observed in specific AML subtypes (M3, M4, M2) and decreased upon achieving complete remission, indicating a correlation with disease status.
Impact:
- PRAME gene expression serves as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in acute leukemia.
- The findings suggest PRAME's utility in detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) in AL patients.
- PRAME expression monitoring may aid in determining therapeutic response and guiding treatment strategies.
