title: Use of NG2 (7.1) in AML as a tumor marker and its association with a poor prognosis.
abstract: We analyzed 70 bone marrow (BM) samples from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients for 11q23 aberrations and reactivity with the monoclonal antibody NG2. NG2 reactivity correlated with FAB-M5 (50% positive cases, with an average of 32% NG2(+) cells), as well as with 11q23 aberrations. We detected NG2(+) cells in AML cases with normal karyotype, however, not in healthy BM cells. This means that NG2 qualifies as a reliable AML blast tumor marker, enabling monitoring of the course of AML independently of, although often associated with, 11q23-aberrations. Patients with more than 10% NG2(+) cells showed a tendency to have a shorter progression-free survival (mean: 7 months) than patients with fewer than 10% NG2(+) cells (mean survival: 17 months; p=0.08). While 31% of the patients with NG2(+) cells responded to chemotherapy, 58% of the group with NG2(+) cells did not respond (p=0.047). In conclusion, NG2 detects many, but not all 11q23 aberrations and other cases without 11q23 aberrations. However, it does not react with healthy BM cells, thereby contributing to the detection of patients with poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department 3, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petrovici
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hecht
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reif
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmetzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011509:Proteoglycans; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4