The role of genetic, epigenetic and phenotypic markers of the MDR1 gene and protein for the prognosis and treatment of the acute myeloid leukemia.

Project leader: Zdena Bartošová
Project duration: 2008 - 2010

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) no major improvements have been accomplished particularly in overall survival of adults with the disease. From affected patients between ages 18-60 only about one third can be cured. However, the progress in molecular biology and genetics led to better overall understanding of malignant disease and efforts are under way to develop so-called targeted therapy. For setting up a patient-individualized therapy, individual prognostic factors are necessary. The studies on the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and expression of MDR1 (multidrug resistance) gene gave controversial results on the link between MDR1 status and AML prognosis. The aim of the proposed project is to perform very complex and extensive correlation of clinical data of AML patients and experimental cell lines with MDR1 gene characterization by means of SNPs composition, methylation status, copy number, and expression measured as P-gp mediated drug efflux.

Publications