HOXA9 Gene Expression and Cytogenetic Analysis in Egyptian Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients.

ABSTRACT

Aim: we investigatedthe frequency of expression of HOXA9 gene in adult Egyptian acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and its relation to different cytogenetic abnormalities. Methods: 30 newly diagnosed AML patients (group 1) were the subject of our study. Ten healthy persons of matched age and sex were considered group ll (controls). Estimation of HOXA9 expression in AML blasts by RT-PCR was done to both groups. Results: Normal cytogenetic analysis was present in 20 cases (66.6%), t(15,17) in 3 cases, t(8,21) in 3 cases, 45 xy -7 in 1 case, t(16,16) in 1 case, 45 xy-20 in 1 case and 46 XX 1P+ in 1 case. NUP 98 -HOXA 9 gene was not detected in any of the studied case or in the control group. Conclusion: absence of HOXA9 gene in our randomly selected patientsmay be related to its rarity in Egyptian population. However, further studies including larger population is still needed to confirm this finding with special stress on poor cytogenetic group.