title: ERK1/2 phosphorylation is an independent predictor of complete remission in newly diagnosed adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology, University La Sapienza of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gregorj
authors.forename: Maria R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Petrucci
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Scerpa
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Cave
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fazi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vignetti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cimino
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Raimondo
authors.forename: Giorgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabbiano
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cantore
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosna
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camera
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Annino
authors.forename: Eustachio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miraglia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fioritoni
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ronco
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mandelli
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreeff
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milella
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foà
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tafuri
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3