Analysis of EVI۱ Gene Expression in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients in the Northeast of Iran

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by increasing immature blood cells in the bone marrow. Aberrant expression of specific genes is a common finding in AML. The proto-oncogene EVI۱ is located in a ۳q۲۶ position that encodes a zinc finger protein. In the present research, we analyzed the expression of EVI۱ gene in ۸۸ Iranian patients with AML. Method: This case-control study was performed in the Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Total RNA was extracted from the bone marrow or peripheral blood mononuclear cells of ۸۸ AML patients and the same number of healthy cases. The expression level of EVI۱ was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Relative quantification analysis was performed by comparative CT (۲−ΔΔCT) method. Results: AML patients expressed a high level of EVI۱ (۳۲.۹۵%). In addition, a statistically significant relationship was detected between t (۸;۲۱) and EVI۱ expression (P=۰.۰۴۹). No correlations were found between EVI۱ expression and FAB (French American British) classification, and also between FLT۳-ITD mutation and white blood cell count (P =۰.۶). Furthermore, no correlations were found between the level of EVI۱ expression and overall survival (P=۰.۷۲). Conclusion:Although EVI۱ is highly expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of AML patient, it cannot be considered as an independent prognostic factor.

Keywords:

EVI۱ Gene , Acute myeloid leukemia , Quantitative real-time PCR