Detectable Wilms' tumor-1 transcription at treatment completion is associated with poor prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia: a single institution's experience.

Background/Aim: The present retrospective study was conducted to measure Wilms' tumor-1 (WT1) mRNA levels in the peripheral blood of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in order to examine any association with the clinical outcomes. Patients and Methods: A total of 58 AML patients were evaluated retrospectively in our institution. WT1 transcripts were determined by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood samples. Results: WT1 levels at diagnosis did not vary according to response of induction treatments, and the levels were comparable between the patients with durable remission and the patients with relapse of disease. WT1 levels at the completion of the treatment were higher in the group with relapse of disease than in the group with sustained remission. Detectable WT1 transcripts after the completion of chemotherapy courses were associated with poor prognoses. Conclusion: WT1 mRNA levels at treatment completion may predict for prognosis of AML.