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Molecular characterization of acute leukemias by use of microarray technology
Author(s) -
Kohlmann Alexander,
Schoch Claudia,
Schnittger Susanne,
Dugas Martin,
Hiddemann Wolfgang,
Kern Wolfgang,
Haferlach Torsten
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
genes, chromosomes and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.754
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1098-2264
pISSN - 1045-2257
DOI - 10.1002/gcc.10225
Subject(s) - immunophenotyping , myeloid leukemia , microarray , leukemia , acute leukemia , cytogenetics , microarray analysis techniques , dna microarray , gene expression profiling , computational biology , biology , breakpoint , gene , cancer research , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , genetics , chromosome , flow cytometry
Accurate subclassification of leukemia and the identification of prognostic determinants are essential to guide therapy and to improve patients' outcome. According to present standards, pre‐therapeutic assessment depends on a combination of different methods. We aimed to expand the molecular characterization of different acute leukemia subtypes to identify new genome‐wide diagnostic markers. Total RNA from 90 adult patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, n = 25) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n = 65) was extracted at diagnosis and high density oligonucleotide microarrays were used to analyze the expression profiles of 12,000/22,000 genes in all specimens (Affymetrix U95Av2/U133A). All cases were thoroughly characterized by individual combinations of cytomorphology, cytogenetics, multiparameter immunophenotyping, and molecular genetics. The expression signature of a small set of differentially expressed genes was sufficient to accurately discriminate eight clinically relevant acute leukemia subgroups. Underlying chromosomal aberrations or immunophenotypical characteristics were strictly correlated with a distinct gene expression pattern for AML with t(8;21), t(15;17), t(11q23)/MLL, or inv(16) as well as for precursor B‐ALL with t(9;22), t(8;14), or t(11q23)/MLL and precursor T‐ALL. These data support a possible future application of microarray technology for classification of the acute leukemias. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.