Methylation Of The P～(15)INK4B Gene In Acute Leukemia And Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Objective To investigate the frequency of P15 gene methylation in adult acute leukemia and MDS and its expression in FAB subtypes.Methods The Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction(MS-PCR) was used to analyse P15 gene methylation in 43 cases of acute leukemia ,17 cases of MDS and 7 normal cases .The katyotypes were analyzed in 16 patients with MDS.Results At presentation,64% of cases of AML (0 of 1 M0, 1 of 2 M,, 7 of 8 M2, 7 of 9 M3, 2 of 3 M4, 5 of 7 M5, 0 of 3 M6;French-American-British classification System) showed P15 methylation.In ALL,70% showed P15methylation.52.9% of cases of MDS(0 of 4 RA, 0 of 1 RARS , 5 of 7 RAEB, 4 of 5 RAEB-T) showed P15 methylation.In 16 MDS katyotyped cases,Chromosomal aberrations were identified in 75% of the patients ,among which P15 gene methylation accounted for 58.3%.Yet no correlation was identified between P15 methylation and chromosomal changes (p<0.05).Conclusion Gene methylation of P15 is frequent in adult acute leukemia and MDS.It may play an important rolein the pathogenesis of acute leukemia and some high -risk MDS and may be related to leukaemic transformation of MDS.