BIRC6/Apollon gene expression in childhood acute leukemia: impact on therapeutic response and prognosis.

Objective: Although BIRC6/Apollon seems to play a critical role as an antiapoptotic regulator, its clinical relevance in acute leukemia remains largely elusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate BIRC6 gene expression in childhood acute leukemia in relation to clinicopathological characteristics at presentation, therapeutic response, and prognosis.

Methods: BIRC6 expression level was assessed in 75 children with acute leukemia; 30 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and 45 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.