High expression of MCL1 gene related to vascular endothelial growth factor is associated with poor outcome in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

We evaluated the level of MCL1 gene expression using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in lymph nodes of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). MCL1 expression in patients in complete remission (CR) was significantly lower than in patients with progressive disease (PD, P = 0.0043). The disease-free survival rate was significantly higher in patients with MCL1 levels below the median level (P = 0.007). We also found that the level of expression of MCL1 mRNA was related to that of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in NHL lymph nodes. Our data suggest that the MCL1 expression level could be considered a prognostic factor in NHL.