Abstract: Objective To explore the correlation of minimal residual disease(MRD) and ABC genes expression in acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods 52 de novo AML bone marrow samples were used to detect the expression of ABCB1，ABCC1，ABCC4 andABCG2 by real-time PCR at diagnosis. Meanwhile, followed up these patients to monitor MRD with MFC at the points of finishing the first induction cause as well as the third,the sixth and the ninth month after chemotherapy. Results The expression level of the 4 ABC transporters among three MRD levels detected after induction cause are correlated significantly with ABCB1(P<0.01), ABCC1(P<0.01), ABCC4(P<0.01) and ABCG2(P<0.01).Further more, after nine months follow-up, the patients whose MRD turned into positive again were detected a high ABC transports expression level, comparing with those MRD remained negative for nine months，which was of a statistically significance for ABCB1(P<0.05), ABCC1(P<0.05), ABCC4(P<0.01) and ABCG2(P<0.01). Conclusions There proves a positive correlation of MRD and ABC transporters level in AML.

Key words: acute myeloid leukemia , minimal residual disease, ABC transporters, multi-parameter flow cytometry, real-time PCR