A S Abdelhady1, F F Abdel Hamid1, N M Hassan2, D M Ibrahim1. 1. Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. 2. Clinical Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aberrant expression of mucin-4 (MUC4) is present in a variety of human solid cancers, but the expression pattern of MUC4 and its clinical relevance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the expression level of MUC4 and explore its prognostic value in newly diagnosed adult patients with AML. METHODS: Bone marrow from 70 AML patients and 26 healthy donors were obtained. MUC4 levels were quantified by Quantitative real time- PCR. Routine blood indices were measured by standard techniques. RESULTS: Bone marrow MUC4 expression levels were significantly elevated in AML patients compared to controls at median (range) 2.77 (0.7-16.6) and 1.14 (0.5-1.99) respectively (p=0.005). Moreover, lower MUC4 expression was strongly associated with persistent remission (p=0.001) while higher MUC4 levels were associated with worse overall as well as disease-free survival (p=0.011 and p=0.006, respectively). Thus, its level may act as an indicator of disease progression. High MUC4 expression was identified as an independent prognostic predictor for both overall survival and disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: MUC4 over-expression is an independent predictor of a poor prognosis in AML patients.
BACKGROUND: Aberrant expression of mucin-4 (MUC4) is present in a variety of human solid cancers, but the expression pattern of MUC4 and its clinical relevance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the expression level of MUC4 and explore its prognostic value in newly diagnosed adult patients with AML. METHODS: Bone marrow from 70 AMLpatients and 26 healthy donors were obtained. MUC4 levels were quantified by Quantitative real time- PCR. Routine blood indices were measured by standard techniques. RESULTS: Bone marrow MUC4 expression levels were significantly elevated in AMLpatients compared to controls at median (range) 2.77 (0.7-16.6) and 1.14 (0.5-1.99) respectively (p=0.005). Moreover, lower MUC4 expression was strongly associated with persistent remission (p=0.001) while higher MUC4 levels were associated with worse overall as well as disease-free survival (p=0.011 and p=0.006, respectively). Thus, its level may act as an indicator of disease progression. High MUC4 expression was identified as an independent prognostic predictor for both overall survival and disease-free survival. CONCLUSION:MUC4 over-expression is an independent predictor of a poor prognosis in AMLpatients.
Authors: Leo Ruhnke; Friedrich Stölzel; Lisa Wagenführ; Heidi Altmann; Uwe Platzbecker; Sylvia Herold; Andreas Rump; Evelin Schröck; Martin Bornhäuser; Johannes Schetelig; Malte von Bonin Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2021-04-15 Impact factor: 6.244