[Studies of hTERT gene expression in acute leukemia children].

Objective: To explore the gene expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in acute leukemia (AL) children and its clinical implication.

Methods: Expression of hTERT mRNA was detected in K562 leukemia cell line, 40 acute leukemia children (AL) and 10 healthy subjects by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: hTERT gene was expressed in K562 cell line, acute lymphoblastic leukemia children (23/30), acute myeloid leukemia children (7/10), and healthy subject (1/10). The expression level of hTERT gene was observed in all subtypes of AL and was related to the prognosis of AL, and the patients with relative level > or = 1.0 were found to have lower complete remission (CR) rates and disease-free survival.

Conclusion: hTERT gene expression is associated with the pathogenesis of childhood AL. It can serve as a prognostic indicator in childhood AL.