Dysregulation of genes involved in the cell cycle such as TP53, P21, P16, and PTEN plays a key role in oncogenesis. We have earlier reported increased expression of the TP53 encoded protein p53, in bone marrow samples from pediatric patients with more aggressive, rare chronic myeloid malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate protein expression of p53, p21, p16, and PTEN before and after HSCT in pediatric patients with AML and evaluate whether any potential alterations could predict relapse after HSCT. Paraffin-embedded bone marrow samples from 34 pediatric patients with AML were collected retrospectively from time of diagnosis as well as pre- and post-HSCT. IHC was performed on tissue microarrays with antibodies against p53, p21, p16, and PTEN. Study material was analyzed by independent t-tests and nonlinear regression. t-Tests showed a statistical significant difference in p53 (p = 0.010) with overexpression in the group of patients who relapsed compared to the relapse-free patients at >3-6 months post-HSCT. Analysis of p53 protein expression by IHC may be a potential predictor for relapse after HSCT in children with AML.
Keywords: AML; PTEN; p16; p21; p53; relapse.
© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.