High expression of WT1 gene in acute myeloid leukemias with more predominant WT1+17AA isoforms at relapse

Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method was established for detecting the expression levels of WT1 gene and WT1+17AA isoforms in 226 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) bone marrow (BM) cells. The results showed that WT1 gene was 2-3 logarithms expressed more in AML BM cells at initial diagnosis or relapse than in normal BM cells (p < 0.001), with predominant WT1+17AA isoforms expression (the ratio of WT1+17AA/WT1 more than 0.50). Interestingly the ratio of WT1+17AA/WT1 was statistically higher in relapsed AMLs than in initially diagnosed (p = 0.01), speculating that WT1+17AA isoforms might participate in AML relapse.