Prognostic significance of WT1 mRNA and anti-WT1 antibody levels in peripheral blood in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

Wilms tumor gene (WT1) mRNA expression in peripheral blood cells was examined in 80 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformed from MDS. Serum anti-WT1 antibody titers were also determined in 45 patients. Their long-term follow-up showed that the survival rate became worse as the WT1 mRNA level increased. In particular, a high WT1 mRNA level was a strong predictor of a short time to AML transformation even if adjusted by the International Prognostic Scoring System category. Moreover, high values of anti-WT1 antibody were an independent predictor of longer survival. These data may justify therapeutic strategies targeting WT1 molecules in MDS.