Lamin protein expression in childhood acute leukemias

Lamin Protein Expression in Childhood Acute Leukemias Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value and expression pattern of lamin A/C, lamin B1 and B2 which is thought to be related with cell proliferation and apoptosis in chilhood acute leukemias. Methods: Seventy-three patients diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 29 patients as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were included in the study. The study was carried out between January 2008 and March 2014 in the Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Oncology. Real Time PCR method was used to detect lamin A/C, lamin B1 and lamin B2 protein expression at the time of the diagnosis and at the end of the induction treatment. Results: At the time of the diagnosis, lamin B1 protein expression was lower in ALL and AML patients when compared to the control group (p<0,05). At the time of the diagnosis, lamin B1 and lamin B2 protein expression was higher in ALL patients with splenomegaly (p:0,027, 0,012 respectively), and in who did not survive (p:0,01, 0,03, 0,01 respectively) than the control group. At the time of the diagnosis, ALL patients with white blood cell count level of 50000-100000/mm3 had only increased lamin B1 protein expression (p<0,05). AML patients with hepatomegaly had only increased lamin A/C expression while those with splenomegaly had both increased lamin A/C and lamin B2 protein expression. The results was statistically significant (p<0,05). Effect of lamin proteins expression on survival was evaluated according to the mean of the control group. Survival rate was high in ALL patients with increased lamin B2 expression when compared to the control group (p<0,05). Similarly, in AML patients with increased lamin B2 protein expression the survival rate was better, but the result was not statistically significant. Because of insufficient number of patients in both groups at the end of the induction treatment we could not analyze the findings properly. Conclusion: In chilhood acute leukemias, lamin B1 protein expression might be a diagnostic and in ALL patients, lamin B2 protein expression might be a prognostic biomarker. Our study is the first one dealing with the lamin proteins for the hematologic malignancies in literature. We believe that, future studies conducted with more patients can reach more reliable results. Keywords: Acute leukemia, lamin protein, prognosis.