Polymorphisms in the human organic cation transporter and the multidrug resistance gene: correlation with imatinib levels and clinical course in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

The optimal tyrosine kinase inhibitor for any individual patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is not predictable. Pharmacogenetic parameters and trough levels of imatinib (IM) have each been independently correlated with response. We therefore studied the human organic cation transporter (hOCT1) and multidrug resistance (MDR1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and correlated these with IM levels and major molecular response (MMR) (3-log reduction) in 84 patients with CML, the first such study performed in Caucasians.

Clinical implications of acute myeloid leukemia presenting as myeloid sarcoma.

In this retrospective study, we aim to analyze the characteristics, treatments, and overall survival of all patients presenting with isolated myeloid sarcoma (MS) or MS with concomitant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) compared with all patients with AML, treated during the same period. We identified patients with AML with or without MS at diagnosis, presenting to our medical center between the years 1990 and 2005. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding gender, age, cytogenetic risk groups, rate of complete remission, number of cycles of chemotherapy needed to achieve complete remission, and rate of first relapse.

Evaluating frequencies of thiopurine S-methyl transferase (TPMT) variant alleles in Israeli ethnic subpopulations using DNA analysis.

Background: Traditionally, medication dosage was based on clinical and demographic parameters, but drug metabolism was recently recognized as an important factor for proper dosing and prediction of side effects. Metabolic considerations are crucial when administering drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, such as those of the thioguanides family (azathioprine and 6-MP). These can cause life-threatening myelosuppression due to low activity of a critical metabolic enzyme, thiopurine S-methyl transferase.

Polymorphisms in transporter and phase II metabolism genes as potential modifiers of the predisposition to and treatment outcome of de novo acute myeloid leukemia in Israeli ethnic groups.

Drug metabolism/disposition and transporter genes may influence predisposition or prognosis of AML (acute myeloid leukemia) patients. We analyzed polymorphisms in 3 transporters and 4 drug metabolism genes in 293 Israeli individuals (112 AML patients and 181 controls). We analyzed: ABCC3 (MRP3) C-211T; ABCG2 (BCRP) C421A; CNT1 (SLC28A1) G565A and NAT1, NAT2, and GSTT1 and GSTM1 null alleles for influence on predisposition, as well as treatment response and survival.

MDR1 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms are associated with HIV seropositivity in Israeli patients but do not influence the course of HIV disease.

Recent studies have examined the relationship between polymorphic alleles of the MDR1 gene and the course of HIV. Such polymorphisms may alter the metabolism of antiretroviral medications or influence susceptibility to HIV infectivity. We therefore studied a polymorphism in MDR1 (C3435T), and the CYP3A4*1B variant allele, the latter of which has not been previously studied in HIV.

The frequencies of NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) variant allele in Israeli ethnic groups and the relationship of NQO1*2 to adult acute myeloid leukemia in Israeli patients.

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) detoxifies quinones. The NQO1*2 variant enzyme (codon 609 C-->T, encoding a proline to serine substitution) with greatly reduced activity has been reported to predispose to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Our aim was to examine the relationship between NQO1*2 and AML in Israeli patients.