[GATA-2 gene expression in leukemia patients and its significance].

Objective To investigate GATA 2 gene expression in leukemia patients and its clinical significance. Methods GATA 2 gene transcripts were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR), and bcr/abl or PML/RAR α transcripts were detected in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), respectively. Results The GATA 2 transcripts were revealed in 93% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in 70% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 83% of CML patients, but not in normal bone marrow and peripheral blood cells. GATA 2 expression in remission patients was similar to newly diagnosed or relapsed patients. In post transplantation patients, GATA 2 expression was significantly decreased. In these cases GATA 2 transcripts could be detected with bcr/abl fusion gene disappeared in 2 of 12 CML, whereas neither GATA 2 nor PML/RARα transcripts could be detected in APL. Conclusion GATA 2 transcripts was highly expressed in leukemia patients and had no change in remission but significantly decreased in post transplantation patients. Detection of GATA 2 expression would give information about the residual leukemia stem cells.