Expression of PIM-2 and NF-κB Is Increased in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Correlates with Complete Remission Rate

PIM-2 is a proto-oncogene that encodes for serine/threonine kinase which interacts with various signalling molecules. PIM-2 is highly expressed in neoplastic tissues and in leukaemic and lymphoma cell lines which is consistent with a its role during oncogenic transformation. The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway appears to be deregulated in variety of tumors, with sustained activity of NF-κB leading to apoptotic resistance in tumor cells

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the PIM-2 and NF-κB expression is altered in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Patients and methods. One hundred fourty-three patients were included: 91 with AML and 52 with ALL (42 with B-ALL and 10 with T-ALL), aged 18–84 (median=41). Seventy-five patients reached complete remission (CR): 50 in AML and 25 in ALL. Bone marrow samples were collected at the time of diagnosis. Control samples were obtained from 24 healthy donors. We analysed PIM-2 and NF-κB expression by RQ-PCR analysis.

Expression of both PIM-2 and NF-κB in all leukaemic patients and in subgroups: AML and ALL was significantly higher than in controls. In AML group patients who reached CR expressed PIM-2 and NF-κB at significantly lower levels than patients with primary resistance to chemotherapy (with no CR, NCR). Moreover in AML, we have found the correlation between PIM-2, NF-κB expression and blasts in myelogram and PIM-2 and patients‘ age.

Our data indicate that PIM-2 and NF-κB genes expression is increased in patients with AML and ALL and correlates with CR rate in AML patients.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.