Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Longterm Outcome Predicted by Age and Genetic Groups

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1509-1509
Author(s):  
Thomas Buchner ◽  
Wolfgang E. Berdel ◽  
Utz Krug ◽  
Claudia Haferlach ◽  
Susanne Schnittger ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1509 Introduction: Both, patients' age and genetic groups are important predictors of outcome in AML while their influence remains poorly quantified and compared. Methods: In the AMLCG (Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cooperative Group) 1999 trial 1470 patients (pts) were 16–59y and 1747 pts were 60–85y of age. 95% of pts could be classified according to genetic risk groups as standardized on behalf of the ELN (Blood 2010;115:453-74). Their treatment was randomized between TAD-HAM versus HAM-HAM induction (TAD, standard dose thioguanine, cytarabine, daunorubicin 60mg/m2 × 3; HAM, high-dose cytarabine 3g/m2 × 6, mitoxantrone 10mg/m2 × 3), TAD consolidation and monthly maintenance vs TAD and autologous SCT, any chemotherapy + vs – G-CSF priming. All assignment was done upfront. Pts of <60y received routine double induction and full dose HAM while pts of 60+y preferentially received only 1 course induction and HAM at 1g instead of 3g cytarabine/m2 × 6. Results: With little difference according to randomizations, pts <60y and 60+y achieved a complete remission (CR) rate of 65% and 51% (p<.001), a 5y overall survival (OS) of 41% and 14% (p<.001), and a 5y ongoing remission duration (RD) of 47% and 21% (p<.001). We particularly focussed on pts around 60y of age and compared the 231 pts of 57–59y with the 315 pts of 60–62y. Corresponding to their similar age the two groups showed similar baseline characteristics. In contrast and due to the cutoff point for age adaption at 60y they differed considerably in treatment. Expressed by the cumulative dosage of cytarabine in induction and early consolidation, the difference between the two groups was by factor 3.9. This difference, however, did not translate into a different outcome being 60% vs 57% CR (p=0.59), 28% vs 25% 5y OS (p=0.40) and 32% vs 29% RD at 5y (p=0.46). Through focussing on patients around 60y a relevant influence of chemotherapy intensity and age adaption could thus be excluded. A multivariable analysis in the complete patients between 16 and 85y of age identified genetic groups and age (as a continuous variable) to be the only risk factors predicting CR, OS as well as RD whereas other risk factors such as secondary AML, WBC, and LDH were predictive only for subsets of endpoints. Among all treatment variables only HAM-HAM induction was associated with a slightly superior RD (p= 0.0715). Grouping by age resulted in 4 age categories (16–46y:n=683, 47–59y: n=787, 60–66y: n=815, and 67+y: n=932) with significantly different OS as well as RD. Subdividing by genetic groups (favorable: n=593, intermediate I: n=1169, intermediate II: n=526, adverse: n=780) distinguished 3 significantly different categories (favorable, intermediate, adverse), a pattern observed in all age groups. Conclusion: In a defined representative population of pts with AML the longterm outcome was mainly determined by age and genetic groups but not by treatment intensity or variables, nor by other prognostic factors. Both, age and genetic groups should thus contribute to a reliable prediction of outcome in AML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 4033-4033
Author(s):  
Eun-Ji Choi ◽  
Je-Hwan Lee ◽  
Jung-Hee Lee ◽  
Han-Seung Park ◽  
Sun-Hye Ko ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Patients with FLT3-ITD mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have generally poor survival. Recent update of ECOG trial comparing standard- vs. high-dose daunorubicin showed that daunorubicin dose intensification improved survival in AML with FLT3-ITD mutants (Blood 2016;127:1551). In subgroup analysis of our previous randomized trial, high-dose daunorubicin seemed to be more effective than idarubicin in AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutants (ASH abstract No. 2535, 2015). In this retrospective investigation, we aimed to evaluate the role of daunorubicin dose intensification for induction therapy in AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutants who were treated at a single institute. Methods We analyzed data from 120 patients of newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD mutated AML patients who received induction chemotherapy between January 2002 and March 2016. The regimens consisted of high-dose daunorubicin (HD-DN, 90 mg/m2/d x 3d, n=39), standard-dose daunorubicin (SD-DN, 45 mg/m2/d x 3d, n=48), or idarubicin (IDA, 12 mg/m2/d x 3d, n=33) in combination with cytarabine (200 mg/m2/d x 7d). Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia were not included. Results After the first round of induction chemotherapy, 53 patients had persistent leukemia; 50 received the second round of induction chemotherapy consisting of daunorubicin (45 mg/m2/d x 2d) or idarubicin (8 mg/ m2/d x 2d) in addition to cytarabine (200 mg/m2/d x 5d) and 3 received other regimens. A total of 81 patients achieved CR, and the CR rates were 76.9%, 58.3%, and 69.7% in HD-DN, SD-DN, and IDA, respectively (P=0.175). The 4-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) of these 81 patients was 48.8%. With the median follow-up duration of survivors of 59.9 months (range, 4.6-170.7), 4-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were 57.1%/27.7%/35.7% (P=0.025) and 45.2%/23.9%/36.0% (P=0.042) in HD-DN, SD-DN, and IDA, respectively. HD-DN showed statistically higher OS (hazard ration [HR], 0.424; P=0.005) and EFS (HR, 0.497; P=0.01), and lower CIR (P=0.036) than SD-DN, while OS and EFS differences between HD-DN and IDA were not statistically significant. Conclusion Daunorubicin dose intensification for induction therapy seemed to be effective in AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutants. Further studies are needed to investigate whether HD-DN is superior to IDA in this population. Considering high relapse rate, combination strategies of daunorubicin dose intensification and targeted agents such as FLT3 inhibitors should be developed. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1087-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Byrd ◽  
Amy S. Ruppert ◽  
Krzysztof Mrózek ◽  
Andrew J. Carroll ◽  
Colin G. Edwards ◽  
...  

Purpose To study the impact of repetitive (three to four courses) versus a single course of high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) consolidation therapy on outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and inv(16)(p13q22) or t(16;16)(p13;q22). Patients and Methods We examined the cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) for 48 adults younger than 60 years with inv(16)/t(16;16) who had attained a complete remission on one of four consecutive clinical trials and were assigned to receive HDAC consolidation therapy. Twenty-eight patients were assigned to either three or four courses of HDAC, and 20 patients were assigned to one course of HDAC followed by alternative intensive consolidation therapy. Results Pretreatment features were similar for the two groups. The CIR was significantly decreased in patients assigned to receive three to four cycles of HDAC compared with patients assigned to one course (P = .03; 5-year CIR, 43% v 70%, respectively). The difference in RFS also approached statistical significance (P = .06). In a multivariable analysis that adjusted for potential confounding covariates, only treatment assignment (three to four cycles of HDAC) predicted for superior RFS (P = .02). The OS of both groups was similar (P = .93; 5-year OS, 75% for the three to four cycles of HDAC group v 70% for the one cycle of HDAC group), reflecting a high success rate with stem-cell transplantation salvage treatment administered among patients in both treatment groups. Conclusion We conclude that, in AML patients with inv(16)/t(16;16), repetitive HDAC therapy decreases the likelihood of relapse compared with consolidation regimens including less HDAC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 801-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan L Trepte ◽  
Jessica J Auten ◽  
Stephen M Clark ◽  
Hendrik W van Deventer

Hyperleukocytosis occurs in 15–20% of all newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia patients and requires emergent treatment with leukapheresis or hydroxyurea when accompanied by signs or symptoms of leukostasis. Currently, there is no standardized hydroxyurea dosing strategy, although usual dosing ranges from 50 to 150 mg/kg/day, and prescribing patterns vary significantly among oncologists and institutions. In addition to other hematologic and dermatologic toxicities, the use of hydroxyurea may be associated with significant mucositis and mucositis-related pain. The purpose of this study was to compare mucositis-related pain between two different hydroxyurea dosing strategies in patients who received hydroxyurea for cytoreduction during induction. A retrospective chart review of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with chemotherapy at UNC Medical Center from April 2014 to April 2016 who received at least one dose of hydroxyurea for cytoreduction was conducted. This study compared the safety and toxicity profiles of hydroxyurea in patients who received high-dose hydroxyurea (≥75 mg/kg/day) versus low-dose hydroxyurea (<75 mg/kg/day). Safety and toxicity were evaluated based on indicators of mucositis and cumulative intravenous narcotic requirements following induction chemotherapy. Data collection included baseline demographics, mucositis risk factors, baseline laboratory values, hydroxyurea dosing, mucositis indicators, and pain indicators. A total of 55 patients were included in the study, 21 patients (38.2%) received the high-dose hydroxyurea dosing strategy. The high-dose hydroxyurea dosing strategy had a significantly higher white blood cell count at diagnosis, increased duration of hydroxyurea, and received a higher cumulative dose of hydroxyurea. Additionally, the high-dose hydroxyurea dosing strategy patients were associated with significantly more grade 3 or 4 mucositis requiring a formulation change (0% versus 28.6%, p = 0.002) and significantly higher cumulative intravenous narcotic requirements during induction (p = 0.019). No significant differences in baseline demographics or mucositis risk factors between dosing strategies were identified. The high-dose hydroxyurea dosing strategy patients had a significant increase in cumulative intravenous narcotic requirements and formulation changes, both common interventions made for the treatment of mucositis. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate the safety and toxicity profiles of hydroxyurea dosing strategies and to explore the correlation between total cumulative hydroxyurea dose and total cumulative narcotic requirements.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 1011-1011
Author(s):  
Marek Seweryn ◽  
Jerzy Wojnar ◽  
Dariusz Kata ◽  
Slawomira Kyrcz-Krzemien

Abstract Abstract 1011 Poster Board I-33 Background: Addition of purine analogues to standard induction therapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) had previously been demonstrated to increase complete remission rate. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the use of cladribine or fludarabine during induction and consolidation increases the risk of infectious complications. Material and methods: 118 AML patients, included in two consecutive randomized trials between 1999-2006 in a single centre were analyzed. Induction therapy consisted of daunorubicin + cytarabine (DA-7, n=53) alone or in combination with cladribine or fludarabine (DAC-7 + DAF-7, n=65 ). Consolidation included one course of high-dose AraC + mitoxantrone and one course of high-dose AraC +/- purine analogues. A median age was 45(17-58) years and 48(20-60) years for patients treated with and without purine analogues, respectively. Results: The frequency of neutropenic fever as well as microbiologically documented bacterial, fungal and viral infections during induction and consolidation did not differ between two compared groups - receiving or not purine analogues. Time to infection occurrence and infection duration were similar in both study groups. During induction and both consolidation treatments significant lower values of lymphocytosis were observed in the group of patients treated with purine analogues. There was a slight tendency to increased rate of mucositis for patients treated with purine analogues (60% vs. 44.3%, p=0.07) during induction treatment, while infections affecting skin and soft tissues were significant frequent for patients treated without purine analogues (43.3% vs. 18%, p=0.03) during second consolidation treatment (high dose AraC). The usage of intravenous anti-infectious medications (antibiotics, antifungal, antiviral) and periods of hospitalization did not differ between two groups in this study. Conclusions: We conclude that the use of purine analogues, either cladribine or fludarabine along with conventional induction and consolidation therapy does not aggreviate infectious complications in adults with AML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 117 (8) ◽  
pp. 2358-2365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeki Ohtake ◽  
Shuichi Miyawaki ◽  
Hiroyuki Fujita ◽  
Hitoshi Kiyoi ◽  
Katsuji Shinagawa ◽  
...  

Abstract We conducted a multi-institutional randomized study to determine whether high-dose daunorubicin would be as effective as standard-dose idarubicin in remission-induction therapy for newly diagnosed adult patients younger than 65 years of age with acute myeloid leukemia. Of 1064 patients registered, 1057 were evaluable. They were randomly assigned to receive either daunorubicin (50 mg/m2 daily for 5 days) or idarubicin (12 mg/m2 daily for 3 days) in combination with 100 mg/m2 of cytarabine by continuous infusion daily for 7 days as induction therapy. Complete remission was achieved in 407 (77.5%) of 525 patients in the daunorubicin group and 416 (78.2%) of 532 in the idarubicin group (P = .79). Patients achieving complete remission received intensive postremission therapy that consisted of either 3 courses of high-dose cytarabine or 4 courses of standard-dose therapy. Overall survival rates at 5 years were 48% for the daunorubicin group and 48% for the idarubicin group (P = .54), and relapse-free survival rates at 5 years were 41% and 41% (P = .97), respectively. Thus, high-dose daunorubicin and standard-dose idarubicin were equally effective for the treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia, achieving a high rate of complete remission and good long-term efficacy. This study is registered at http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctrj/ as C000000157.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (14) ◽  
pp. 3832-3841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Je-Hwan Lee ◽  
Young-Don Joo ◽  
Hawk Kim ◽  
Sung Hwa Bae ◽  
Min Kyoung Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract We conducted a phase 3 randomized trial comparing 2 different doses of daunorubicin as induction chemotherapy in young adults (60 years of age or younger) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Of 383 patients who were analyzed, 189 received standard-dose daunorubicin (SD-DN, 45 mg/m2 per day times 3 days) and 194 received high-dose daunorubicin (HD-DN, 90 mg/m2 per day times 3 days) in addition to cytarabine (200 mg/m2 per day times 7 days) to induce complete remission (CR). The CR rates were 72.0% in the SD-DN arm and 82.5% in the HD-DN arm (P = .014). At a median follow-up of 52.6 months, overall (OS) and event-free (EFS) survival were higher in the HD-DN arm than in the SD-DN arm (OS, 46.8% vs 34.6%, P = .030; EFS, 40.8% vs 28.4%, P = .030). Differences in CR rate and both OS and EFS remained significant after adjusting for other variables (CR, hazard ratio [HR], 1.802, P = .024; OS, HR, 0.739, P = .032; EFS, HR, 0.774, P = .048). The survival benefits of HD-DN therapy were evident principally in patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetic features. The toxicity profiles were similar in the 2 arms. In conclusion, HD-DN improved both the CR rate and survival duration compared with SD-DN in young adults with AML. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00474006.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (12) ◽  
pp. 3740-3746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstanze Döhner ◽  
Richard F. Schlenk ◽  
Marianne Habdank ◽  
Claudia Scholl ◽  
Frank G. Rücker ◽  
...  

To assess the prognostic relevance of mutations in the NPM1 gene encoding a nucleocytoplasmic shuttle protein in younger adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and normal cytogenetics, sequencing of NPM1 exon 12 was performed in diagnostic samples from 300 patients entered into 2 consecutive multicenter trials of the AML Study Group (AMLSG). Treatment included intensive double-induction therapy and consolidation therapy with high cumulative doses of high-dose cytarabine. NPM1 mutations were identified in 48% of the patients including 12 novel sequence variants, all leading to a frameshift in the C-terminus of the nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) protein. Mutant NPM1 was associated with specific clinical, phenotypical, and genetic features. Statistical analysis revealed a significant interaction of NPM1 and FLT3 internal tandem duplications (ITDs). NPM1 mutations predicted for better response to induction therapy and for favorable overall survival (OS) only in the absence of FLT3 ITD. Multivariable analysis for OS revealed combined NPM1-mutated/FLT3 ITD–negative status, CEBPA mutation status, availability of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)–compatible donor, secondary AML, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as prognostic factors. In conclusion, NPM1 mutations in the absence of FLT3 ITD define a distinct molecular and prognostic subclass of young-adult AML patients with normal cytogenetics.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1354-1354
Author(s):  
Wellington F Silva ◽  
Lidiane Inês Da Rosa ◽  
Fernanda S Seguro ◽  
Douglas R. A. Silveira ◽  
Luciana Nardinelli ◽  
...  

Introduction: There is no consensus regarding the best salvage regimen for refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (r/rAML), with classic regimens traditionally based on high-dose cytarabine in a changeable combination with anthracyclines, purine analogs, and etoposide. Outcomes of r/rAML patients in developing countries are underreported, even though the same regimens are widely used. Methods: This is a retrospective single-center study, conducted in an academic center in Brazil. Local research ethics committee approved this analysis. All patients above 16 years of age who received MEC (mitoxantrone, etoposide and cytarabine) or FLAG-IDA (fludarabine, cytarabine, filgrastim and idarubicin) as originally reported (Amadori, S. et al. and Steinmetz, H. T. et al.) for r/rAML between December/2009 and January/2019 were included. Only patients with refractory or relapsed disease following standard upfront therapy ("7+3" regimen) were included in this analysis, being divided among refractory (less than partial response after one cycle of "7+3"), early relapsed (relapse within one year from first complete response [CR]) and late relapsed (relapse after one year of CR). Only the first salvage was considered for this study. Results: Sixty patients were included in the final analysis, with a median age of 45 years (range, 17 - 69). There were no cases of therapy-related AML. Four AML cases (7%) were secondary to myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). All FLT3-ITD positive cases had an associated NPM1 mutation. Two patients had chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection and received antiretroviral therapy. Baseline characteristics of the whole cohort are summarized in Table 1. Three patients had undergone SCT in first CR and were post-SCT relapses. Twenty-eight patients received MEC and 32 received FLAG-IDA. By comparing the baseline characteristics of both groups, no difference statistically significant was found except for the indication for salvage treatment, in which there were more refractory cases in FLAG-IDA group (56 vs. 28%, p=0.029) (Table 2). Overall, 17/60 achieved CR and 12/60 CRi, with a total CR rate (CR+CRi) of 48.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35.4 - 61.5). Sixteen patients (27%) early died before a response assessment. By univariate analysis, only age affected the CR rate (p=0.045). No difference in CR rate was found between the two protocols (MEC 53.5 vs. FLAG-IDA 43.7%, p=0.447). Looking into this data, it can be seen that there were more refractory patients in FLAG-IDA arm (37.5 vs. 4%, p=0.02) but more patients early-died in MEC arm (35.7 vs. 18.7%, p=0.137), even though the latter was not statistically significant. After correcting the initial differences between the two groups regarding indication for salvage through a propensity score calculation, a post-matching cohort with 44 subjects was found. In this cohort, no difference in refractoriness rate could be detected (p=0.077). In the whole cohort, 17 patients proceeded to allogeneic SCT - 15 in CR/CRi and 2 with active disease, with no difference in SCT execution rate between the two groups (p=0.470). 4/17 transplanted patients were alive. Median follow-up was 48 months. Median survival for total cohort was 4 months (95% CI, 2.7 - 9.2), with a 3-year OS of 9.7% (95% CI, 4 - 23.7) and a 3-year EFS of 7.5% (95% CI, 2.5 - 22.4). In the univariate analysis for OS, age (p=0.04), FLT3 status (p&lt;0.001) and SCT procedure (p=0.002) were statistically significant. Chosen regimen did not influence OS or EFS as well as the genetic risk, colonization or time of relapse (Figure 1). In a multivariable model for EFS including age, FLT3 status and SCT procedure, only the last two indicators remained significant: FLT3-ITD mutation (Hazard ratio [HR] = 4.6 [95% CI 1.9 - 11.4], p&lt;0.001) and SCT procedure (HR = 0.43 [95% CI 0.22 - 0.82], p=0.01). Conclusion: In this analysis, there was no difference concerning the chosen regimen for r/rAML, even though a possible higher refractoriness rate could be seen in FLAG-IDA arm. High early toxicity was found, emphasizing the role of supportive care and judicious selection of patients to intensive salvage therapy in our setting. FLT3-ITD mutation and SCT remained as significant factors for survival in a multivariable analysis, which is in line with previous studies. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (8) ◽  
pp. 2841-2851 ◽  
Author(s):  
JK Weick ◽  
KJ Kopecky ◽  
FR Appelbaum ◽  
DR Head ◽  
LL Kingsbury ◽  
...  

Interest in high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) for both induction and postremission therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) prompted the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) to initiate a randomized trial comparing HDAC with standard-dose cytarabine (SDAC) for remission induction of previously untreated AML and to compare high-dose treatment versus conventional doses for consolidation therapy. Patients less than 65 years of age with de novo or secondary AML were randomized for induction between SDAC 200 mg/ m2/d for 7 days by continuous infusion or HDAC at 2 g/ m2 intravenously every 12 hours for 12 doses; both groups received daunorubicin (DNR) at 45 mg/m2/d intravenously for 3 days. Complete responders to SDAC were randomized to receive either two additional courses of SDAC plus DNR or one course of HDAC plus DNR. Complete responders to HDAC were nonrandomly assigned to receive one additional course of HDAC plus DNR. Of patients randomized between SDAC (n = 493) and HDAC (n = 172) induction, 361 achieved complete remission (CR). The CR rate was slightly poorer with HDAC: 55% versus 58% with SDAC for patients aged less than 50, and 45% (HDAC) versus 53% (SDAC) for patients aged 50 to 64 (age-adjusted one-tailed P = .96). With a median follow-up time of 51 months, survival was not significantly better with HDAC (P = .41); the estimated survival rate at 4 years was 32% (HDAC) versus 22% (SDAC) for those aged less than 50, and 13% (HDAC) versus 11% (SDAC) for those aged 50 to 64. However, relapse-free survival was somewhat better following HDAC Induction (P = .049): 33% (HDAC) versus 21% (SDAC) at 4 years for those aged less than 50, and 21% (HDAC) versus 9% (SDAC) for those aged 50 to 64. Induction with HDAC was associated with a significantly increased risk of fatal (P = .0033) and neurologic (P < .0001) toxicity. Among patients who achieved CR with SDAC, survival and disease-free survival (DFS) following consolidation randomization were not significantly better with HDAC compared with SDAC (P = .77 and .46, respectively). Patients who received both HDAC induction and consolidation had the best postremission outcomes; however, the proportion of CR patients who did not go on to protocol consolidation therapy was more than twice as high after HDAC induction compared with SDAC. Induction therapy with HDAC plus DNR was associated with greater toxicity than SDAC plus DNR, but with no improvement in CR rate or survival. Following CR induction with SDAC, consolidation with HDAC increased toxicity but not survival or DFS. In a nonrandomized comparison, patients who received both HDAC induction and consolidation had superior survival and DFS compared with those who received SDAC induction with either SDAC or HDAC consolidation.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 3296-3296
Author(s):  
Moniruddin Chowdhury ◽  
Keichiro Mihara ◽  
Nanae Nakaju ◽  
Sachiko Fukumoto-Hidani ◽  
Yoshihiro Takihara ◽  
...  

Abstract Since prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is highly variable even in a single subpopulation in FAB classification, it would be useful to find prognostic molecular markers for AML. Thus, we investigated Bmi-1 expression in AML cells by flow cytometry and analyzed whether it predicts prognosis in AML patients and further it is helpful to choose therapies in the modalities of treatment options, because it is known to be required for self-renewal mechanism of leukemic stem cells. Bmi-1 expression in bone marrow or peripheral blood cells was analyzed in 49 patients with AML (M0(n=5), M1(n=7), M2(n=6), M3(n=5), M4(n=8), M5(n=5), M6(n=1)), granulocytic sarcoma(n=1), MDS-AML (n=9), and secondary AML(n=2). Freshly isolated AML cells were stained with a PE-conjugated anti-CD34-antibody followed by fixation and then with anti-Bmi-1-antibody-FITC. All of patients with low Bmi-1 positivity (&lt;35%, n=11) except for de novo AML(M0) entered in complete remission (CR) with single induction chemotherapy(n=5) and accordingly had better overall survival, even though lower dose of chemotherapy (60% of standard dose) was given (n=3). Alternatively, patients with higher percentage of Bmi-1 expression in AML cells (&gt; 70%, n=19) except for AML(M3) progressed to death within two years, unless they were treated with highly intensive therapy such as high dose AraC or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (n=3). Patients with intermediate degree of Bmi-1 expression (35–60%, n=5) responded to standard intensity of chemotherapy (n=2) and are alive for more than two years. Interestingly, patients with MDS-AML (n=9) had high Bmi-1 expression (79%) and all of them have died within 20 months. Binary logistic regression model showed that significant correlation was found among survival status as dependent variable, Bmi-1, and treatment intensity as independent variable (p = 0.004). On the other hand, Univariate analysis did not reveal any relation of Bmi-1 expression to karyotype, age, WBC count, or FAB subtype. In conclusion, Bmi-1 expression could be an independent prognostic marker and useful tool to design therapy for the AML patients.


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