title: Analysis of thrombopoietin receptor (c-mpl) mRNA expression in de novo acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Expression of the thrombopoietin receptor, c-mpl, has been recently suggested to represent an adverse prognostic factor in myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To further evaluate this putative correlation, we assessed the c-mpl mRNA expression in blast samples of 53 AML patients. Overall, c-mpl mRNA expression was observed in 27 (51%) patients. No significant difference between c-mpl(+) and c-mpl(-) patients was found with respect to established prognostic factors such as age (50 vs. 53 years) or karyotype, whereas a significant correlation was observed between c-mpl and CD34 expression (P = 0.026). Among 40 patients who completed standard-/high-dose cytarabine-containing induction/consolidation treatment and were evaluable for treatment response, a higher complete remission (CR) rate was achieved in c-mpl- than in c-mpl(+) patients (95 vs. 68%; P = 0.026). Upon multivariate analysis, this relationship was independent from CD34 expression. CR duration was not significantly longer in c-mpl(-) than in c-mpl(+) patients (median: 14 vs. 10 months, P = 0.262). In conclusion, our data strongly support the previously suggested notion that c-mpl expression is of prognostic relevance for CR induction in de novo AML patients, and suggest determination of c-mpl expression within larger prospective studies in the attempt to develop risk-adapted AML treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Cancer Research), University of Essen Medical School, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45122, Essen, Germany. jochen.schuette@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolkenbrock
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tins
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasimir-Bauer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seeber
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schütte
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism; D053628:Receptors, Thrombopoietin; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D053628:Receptors, Thrombopoietin; C082218:MPL protein, human; D013926:Thrombopoietin