Abstract | BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated the expression of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie2 by immunohistochemical analyses in bone marrow biopsies of 64 adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and correlated angiogenic factor expression with clinicopathological variables and long-term survival. RESULTS: Expression of Ang-2 was significantly higher in the bone marrow of AML patients than in 16 control patients. In contrast, the levels of Ang-1 expression in AML patients did not differ from those found in controls. Thus, we observed a reversal of the Ang-1 and Ang-2 expression balance in the neoplastic bone marrow. Furthermore, Tie2 was significantly overexpressed in leukemic blasts. Patients expressing high levels of Ang-2 had significantly longer overall survival than those with low Ang-2 levels (52.7 vs. 14.7 months). Multivariate analysis revealed that karyotype and Ang-2 expression were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (hazard ratio [CI]: 3.06 [1.39-6.70] and 0.31 [0.14-0.69], respectively). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence that the alteration of angiopoietin balance in favor of Ang-2 may play a critical role in the pathophysiology of AML. Furthermore, high pre-therapeutic levels of Ang-2 in the bone marrow indicate a favorable prognosis in AML patients treated with polychemotherapy, although the mechanism is not yet known.
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Authors | Christoph Schliemann, Ralf Bieker, Teresa Padro, Torsten Kessler, Heike Hintelmann, Thomas Buchner, Wolfgang E Berdel, Rolf M Mesters |
Journal | Haematologica
(Haematologica)
Vol. 91
Issue 9
Pg. 1203-11
(Sep 2006)
ISSN: 1592-8721 [Electronic] Italy |
PMID | 16956819
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Angiopoietin-1
- Angiopoietin-2
- Angiopoietins
- Receptor, TIE-2
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Topics |
- Acute Disease
- Angiopoietin-1
(genetics)
- Angiopoietin-2
(genetics)
- Angiopoietins
(genetics)
- Bone Marrow
(metabolism)
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid
(genetics)
- Receptor, TIE-2
(genetics)
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