ERK1/2 phosphorylation is an independent predictor of complete remission in newly diagnosed adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) is frequently found constitutively activated (p-ERK1/2) in hematopoietic diseases, suggesting a role in leukemogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the expression and clinical role of p-ERK1/2 in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In 131 primary samples from adult de novo ALL patients enrolled in the Gruppo Italiano per le Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto (GIMEMA) Leucemia Acute Linfoide (LAL) 2000 protocol and evaluated by flow cytometry, constitutive ERK1/2 activation was found in 34.5% of cases; these results were significantly associated with higher white blood cell (WBC) values (P=.013). In a multivariate analysis, p-ERK1/2 expression was an independent predictor of complete remission achievement (P=.027). Effective approaches toward MEK inhibition need to be explored in order to evaluate whether this may represent a new therapeutic strategy for adult ALL patients.
Gregorj
Chiara
C
Division of Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, University La Sapienza of Rome, Italy.
Ricciardi
Maria R
MR
Petrucci
Maria T
MT
Scerpa
Maria C
MC
De Cave
Fabiana
F
Fazi
Paola
P
Vignetti
Marco
M
Vitale
Antonella
A
Mancini
Marco
M
Cimino
Giuseppe
G
Palmieri
Salvatore
S
Di Raimondo
Francesco
F
Specchia
Giorgina
G
Fabbiano
Francesco
F
Cantore
Nicola
N
Mosna
Federico
F
Camera
Andrea
A
Luppi
Mario
M
Annino
Luciana
L
Miraglia
Eustachio
E
Fioritoni
Giuseppe
G
Ronco
Francesca
F
Meloni
Giovanna
G
Mandelli
Franco
F
Andreeff
Michael
M
Milella
Michele
M
Foà
Robin
R
Tafuri
Agostino
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction
D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3