BMI-1 Gene Expression in Patients with Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in the Northeast of Iran

Background: The B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site1 (BMI-1) is one of the famous members of the Polycomb ring finger group, which plays a crucial role in the gene transcription regulation through histone changes. Hence, it is believed to be necessary to further clarify the effects of the BMI-1 clinical. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 70 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and 20 healthy individuals, as the control group. We used Real-Time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR) in order to assess the BMI-1 level expression and its effect on prognosis in AML patients in the Molecular Pathology Research Center. Results: The results of the present work indicated that the BMI-1 overexpression was significantly higher in the AML and CML patients compared to that in the healthy controls (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant relationship was observed between the BMI-1 overexpression and poor prognosis in the AML patients (Hazard ratio=1.749, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval = 1.31-2.32). Additionally, BMI-1high was found in chronic and blastic phase in the CML patients (P < 0.001). Conclusion: We concluded that investigation of BMI-1 gene expression pattern will be conducive to the prognosis and treatment of myeloid leukemia.