The expression of Midkine gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and its significance

Midkine (MK) is a heparin-binding growth factor and a product of a retinoic acid-responsive gene. Midkine is overexpressed in many carcinomas and thought to play an important role in carcinogenesis. However, no studies have been focused on the role of MK in AML. This study sought to evaluate the expression of MK among AML patients to explore possible correlation between MK expression and different clinicopathologic variables in an attempt to determine the prognostic value of MK expression. Mononuclear cells were separated from samples of 50 newly diagnosed cases of AML; 10 healthy volunteers were included in this study as control group. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method was used to examine the expression of MK mRNA in mononuclear cells. Midkine gene mRNA expression rate was significantly higher in AML patients when compared to control group (p < 0.001); comparing Midkine expression in patients with different clinical and laboratory findings was of no statistical significance (p > 0.05). Moreover, Midkine expression was significantly higher in patients that did not achieve complete remission compared to those who succeeded to achieve one (p < 0.001). Midkine may play an important role in the tumorigenesis of AML, and evaluation of MK expression may prove to be useful for predicting response to treatment. © 2013 Springer-Verlag London.