Quantitative assessment of MLAA-34 expression in a sample of Egyptian patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia

Background: MLAA-34 is a novel acute monocytic leukemia-associated antigen. Previous studies found that it might be an antiapoptotic factor and play a role in the carcinogenesis and the progression of leukemia, and its overexpression might be associated with an unfavorable presentation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Aim and objectives: The aim of this work was to study the expression of MLAA-34 in AML and its correlation with known prognostic parameters and the clinical outcome. Patients and methods: In 30 patients with de-novo AML compared with a control group of 25 age-matched and sex-matched individuals, MLAA-34 expression was assessed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results and conclusion: Results revealed an overexpression of MLAA-34 in patients with AML-M5 compared with controls. Also, MLAA-34 expression was associated with a poor outcome and unfavorable presentation (a high leukocytic count and extramedullary disease). In conclusion, MLAA-34 may be used as a prognostic tool in AML, especially M5.