[FLT3 Gene Expression and Its Clinical Significance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.]

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the correlation between fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) expression and FLT3-internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations in acute myeloid leukemia patients,and the association between expression of FLT3 gene and clinical and laboratory features of patients.

METHODS:

The expression of FLT3 mRNA in bone marrow (BM) leukemic cells of 128 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients was measured by real-time PCR.The patients were divided into two groups using the 35% FLT3 expression as a cut-off point.The associations between the expression level of FLT3 and clinical and laboratory features of patients were analyzed.

RESULTS:

The patients had a FLT3 gene expression level of 0.01-180.68 (mean 14.65) at the initial diagnosis,with AML-M1 the most expressed and AML-M6 the least expressed,but without statistical significance.The patients with a high level of FLT3 gene expression had higher peripheral blood white blood cell count (WBC) (P<0.01) and were more likely to become anemic and febrile (P<0.05).WBC [regression coefficient (B)=1.508,odds ratio (OR)=4.518,95% confidence interval(CI):1.465-13.390,P=0.009] and anemia (B=2.142,OR=8.513,95%CI:3.201-22.644,P<0.001)were predictors of higher expression of FLT3.The patients with high levels of FLT3 gene expression had lower complete remission rate (32/83),compared with those (36/44) with low levels of FLT3 gene expression (P<0.05).The Cox regression analysis showed that the patients with higher levels of FLT3 gene expression had a higher risk of death (B=1.338, relative risk=3.810, 95%CI:1.820-7.947,P<0.001).The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the patients with higher levels of FLT3 gene expression had lower survival time (56.63%) than those with lower levels of FLT3 expression (70.45%,P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

FLT3 gene has adverse impacts on complete remission of AML.High expression of FLT3 gene is associated with poor prognosis of patients with AML.

• Authors: Si-Shi Tang, Yuan-Xin Ye, Yan-Hong Zhou, Yi Zhou, Juan Zhou, Jiang Yu, Man-Ying Guo, Xiao-Jun Lu, Bin-Wu Ying
• Journal: Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition (Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban) Vol. 47 Issue 6 Pg. 926-930 (Nov 2016) ISSN: 1672-173X [Print] China
• PMID: 28598126 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• FLT3 protein, human
• fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3

Topics

• Humans
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate
• Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute (genetics)
• Mutation
• Prognosis
• Remission Induction
• fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 (genetics)