MEIS1 and HOXA7 genes in human acute myeloid leukemia

Co-activation of Meisl with Hoxa7 or Hoxa9 homeobox genes by retroviral gen e insertion has recently been reported to be leukemogenic in murine myeloid leukemia. In this study we determined their expression in human leukemia. Most human myeloid leukemia cell lines co-expressed MEIS1 with HOXA7 and HO XA9. Among patients with acute leukemia, 50% of AML patients expressed MEIS 1, while the majority of ALL patients were negative. A total of 89.5% of pa tients expressing MEIS1 co-expressed HOXA7. In unadjusted models, poorer re sponse to chemotherapy was associated with expression of HOXA7 regardless o f MEIS1 status and older patients were more likely to express either gene. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.