title: Peripheral FLT-3 ligand levels as a pathobiological parameter duringthe clinical course of acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  FLT-3 ligand is a growth factor affecting the hematopoietic lineage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of peripheral FLT-3 ligand during the clinical course of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this study in order to assess alterations in the circulating levels of FLT-3 ligand during the clinical course of AML.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied the association in the diagnostic period between the FLT-3 ligand and peripheral blood cells together with serum electrolytes. FLT-3 ligand levels (pg/mL) during the aplastic period due to remission induction and consolidation were higher than the levels at initial diagnosis. On the other hand, the diagnostic and remission induction values of leukocytes and FLT-3 ligand showed an inverse association. These results indicate to us that higher white cell counts are associated with lower FLT-3 ligand levels. We also found a reversed association between FLT-3 ligand and serum lactate dehydrogenase level. However, there was no association between FLT-3 ligand and other serum electrolyte levels. We also found higher FLT-3 ligand levels in male patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates the inverse proliferative action of FLT-3 ligand on the early myeloid lineage. In addition, this study showed us that FLT-3 receptor inhibition during chemotherapy-induced aplasia causes a compensative ligand overexpression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Mersin State Hospital, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Memduh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Şahin
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim Celalettin
authors.initials: İC
authors.lastname: Haznedaroğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Mersin State Hospital, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Demircan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Özbalcı
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; C084881:flt3 ligand protein
keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; FLT-3 ligand