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Allografting

Wilms’ tumor gene 1 expression: an independent acute leukemia prognostic indicator following allogeneic hematopoietic SCT

Abstract

To evaluate the prognostic significance of Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1) expression for monitoring minimal residual disease and predicting relapse in patients with acute leukemia (AL) following allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (allo-HSCT), the WT1 expression levels of 138 AL patients were measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR at designed time points after allo-HSCT. All patients were divided into four groups based on the HSCT outcomes and intervention application. A low level of WT1 expression following HSCT indicated a low risk of relapse, whereas WT1 expression >1.05% was indicative of a higher probability of relapse. Only the advanced stage of disease (hazard ratio (HR)=2.73; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.337–5.573, P=0.006) and a WT1 expression 0.60% (HR=4.774; 95% CI=2.410–9.459, P=0.000) were associated with lower disease-free survival. Relapse (HR=0.119; 95% CI=0.056–0.250, P=0.000) and a WT1 expression 0.60% (HR=2.771; 95% CI=1.316–5.834, P=0.007) were associated with lower OS. In conclusion, the WT1 expression level is an independent prognostic factor that can predict clinical outcomes for AL patients after HSCT and provide a guide for suitable interventions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Outstanding Young Scientist's Foundation of China (grant no. 30725038), the Program for Innovative Research Team in University (grant no. IRT 0702) and the Leading Program of Clinical Faculty accredited by the Ministry of Health of China.

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Correspondence to X-J Huang.

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Zhao, XS., Jin, S., Zhu, HH. et al. Wilms’ tumor gene 1 expression: an independent acute leukemia prognostic indicator following allogeneic hematopoietic SCT. Bone Marrow Transplant 47, 499–507 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2011.121

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