Differential display as an approach to study differentiation and differentiation therapy in AML

Different subgroups of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be defined by the s pecific non-random chromosomal translocation that is present within the abn ormal cell types. In one type of AML, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), t he block in the normal process of differentiation can be circumvented by th e addition of a chemical inducer, in this case retinoic acid. This is due t o the defect in APL affecting the retinoic acid receptor gene. This type of therapy has become known as differentiation therapy. However, most types o f leukemia do not respond to the retinoic acid, and therefore methods of di fferentiation therapy need to be developed by targeting other genes involve d in the leukemia process. This requires the molecular characterizations of the genes that are expressed during differentiation and in particular thos e genes that show a differential expression in inducer sensitive cells and those resistant to induced differentiation. Therefore, therapeutic agents c ould be developed to specifically target these genes. This article describe s how the technique of differential display, as one of several possible met hods of molecular screening, may allow the identification of genes which ca n be targeted to induce differentiation. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & So ns, Ltd.