Text Box: MDR1 GENE EXPRESSION IN ACUTE LYMPHOID LEUKEMIA OF CHILDHOOD
Zhou Dongfeng, Meng Pu
Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan, China

Objective: To study the relation of MDR1 gene expression levels to clinical chemotherapy resistance drugs in children acute lymphoid leukemia. 
Methods: MDR1 mRNA expression in 21 lymphoid leukemia cases  were observed closely by RT-PCR, and the levels were evaluated  with the ration of MDR1 mRNA /β2M mRNA . 
Results: MDR1 mRNA positive rate for untreated group, remission group, refractory and relapse group was 19.05%, 23.53%, 83.33% respectively. The expression levels of MDR1 in refractory and  relapse cases (0.772±0.213) were higher significantly than in untreated cases (0.347±0.107) and in remission cases (0.355±0.149) (P<0.001=. In untreated group, MDR1 mRNA positive cases had a lower significantly remission rate than MDR1 negative cases .The chemotherapy efficacy was poor in those patients which MDR1 mRNA expressed continuously so that they were easily to relapse.
Conclusion: The expression levels of MDR1 mRNA were closely relative to clinical chemotherapy resistance drugs, it might be as a significant sign for clinical evaluation for refractory degree and relapse.
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