Clinical Significance of HOX11L2 and HOX11 Gene Expression in T-ALL Patients

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of two structurally related homeobox genes TLX1/HOX11 and TLX3/HOX11L2 on the clinical outcome of T-ALL patients. Material and Methods: The study included 28 newly diagnosed T-ALL patients. HOX11L2 and HOX11 gene expression were detected by real time PCR. Patients received treatment according to the ALL BFM-90 protocol. Results: Of 28 patients, 8(28.6%) expressed HOX11L2 and 4(14.3%) expressed HOX11.The overall survival of patients with HOX11L2 expression was lower than of the patients without HOX11L2 expression (log-rank P<0.025). As regards HOX11 expression, a statistically significant difference in clinical outcome was found, where HOX11 expression conferred a prognostic advantage (p< 0.001). Conclusion: the present study was showed that the outcome of HOX11L2 and HOX11 expression differs, with poor outcome for patients with HOX11l2-expression. Future molecular diagnostics may make use of such leukemia-specific markers as HOX11L2 and HOX11 to detect minimal residual disease.