Objective: To investigate the frequency of p16 and p15 gene inactivation in acute leukemia and to evaluate its clinical significance.
Methods: Fifty-six patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia was studied. PCR technique was used to detect homozygous deletion of p16 and p15 gene, restriction enzyme-PCR technique was used to detect gene methylation, and TdT-mediated dUTP-digoxygenin end-labeling (TUNEL) technique was used to detect cell apoptosis.
Results: p16 and/or p15 gene inactivation was detected in 33 of the 56 patients, including 23/38 (60.5%) of the ALL patients (T-ALL 12/16, B-ALL 11/22) and 10/18 (55.5%) of the ANLL patients. For All patients, methylation was the major pathway of p16 and p15 gene inactivation. Patients with p16 and/or p15 gene inactivation had a delayed apoptosis, a poor response to chemotherapy, a lower remission rate and a shortened remission duration.
Conclusion: The inactivation of p16 and p15 gene plays a key role in the pathogenesis of acute leukemia.