Gene profiles could improve AML diagnosis, provide insight on better treatments.

2004 AUG 12 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The results of a microarray analysis of genes from both children and adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) could significantly improve the ability to make accurate diagnoses and prognoses for the major genetic (molecular) subtypes of the pediatric form of this disease and lead to better treatments.

This finding, by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, has been published in the journal Blood.

AML is a cancer that arises in bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or progenitor cells that are destined to become myeloid cells (cells normally committed to fighting infections). Gene microarray …