Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic Of Iran

en Expression of DR4, DR5, FAS, Caspase-8 and, DDIAS Genes in AML Patients Hematology Hematology Original Research Original Research Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults and accompanies a worse survival.  In this study, gene expression levels of 5 key players of apoptosis, including DR4, DR5, FAS, caspase 8, and DNA damage-induced apoptosis suppressor (DDIAS), have been evaluated in AML patients compared with controls, aiming to evaluate their possible role and prognostic impact.    Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in the Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. A total of 30 newly diagnosed AML cases as well as 30 healthy controls enrolled in the study. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expressions of DR4, DR5, FAS, DDIAS, and caspase 8 genes in cases and controls. Other necessary data, including cytogenetic findings, mutations, French-American-British (FAB) classification, and survival, were retrieved from hospital records and by direct contact with patients. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software. When appropriate, the Mann-Whitney U, Pearson's correlation, and the t tests were utilized. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.    Results: The expression of all evaluated genes, including DDIAS (0.89 ± 0.20), DR4 (0.67 ± 0.24), DR5 (0.72 ± 0.24), FAS (0.70 ± 0.25), and Caspase 8 (0.77 ± 0.20) were significantly decreased in AML patients compared with the controls (P < 0.001). Patients with the t (16;16) or inv (16) expressed significantly higher amounts of the FAS gene and those with FLT3 mutation exhibited lower expression of caspase 8. Expression of the evaluated genes showed no significant effect on survival.    Conclusion: The expression of DR4, DR5, FAS, and caspase 8 seems to be decreased in AML. Lower expression of these molecules may aid AML cells in avoiding apoptosis because they are involved in the initiation of apoptosis, making them potential targets for treatment.   Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Apoptosis, DDIAS, DR4, DR5, FAS, Caspase 8 549 553 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7892-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Jalal Naghinezhad NaghinezhadJ961@mums.ac.ir 200319475328460077988 200319475328460077988 No Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, & Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Anita Alenabi Ayatollahih@mums.ac.ir 200319475328460077989 200319475328460077989 No Department of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Hossein Ayatollahi AlenabiAN@mums.ac.ir 200319475328460077990 200319475328460077990 No Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, & Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Maryam Sheikhi SheikhiM2@mums.ac.ir 200319475328460077991 200319475328460077991 No Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Mohammad Hadi Sadeghian SadeghianMH@mums.ac.ir 200319475328460077992 200319475328460077992 No Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, & Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Zahra Khooshnegah KhoshnegahZ981@mums.ac.ir 200319475328460077993 200319475328460077993 No Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Samaneh Boroumand-Noughabi samaneh.boroumand@gmail.com 200319475328460077994 200319475328460077994 Yes Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, & Cancer Molecular Pathology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran