High CXCR4 and low VLA-4 expression predicts poor survival in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Leuk Res. 2014 Jan;38(1):65-70. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2013.10.016. Epub 2013 Oct 28.

Abstract

Data regarding the prognostic significance of CXCR4 and VLA-4 in ALL are limited. Especially, VLA-4 has not been evaluated at the time of diagnosis in both adult and childhood ALL patients. We prospectively analyzed the expression of VLA-4 and CXCR4 in 54 patients (VLA-4 in 29 adults and 25 children and CXCR4 in 22 adults and 24 children) newly diagnosed with ALL by flow cytometry. Expression levels of VLA-4 and CXCR4 were not different between adults and children with ALL. High CXCR4 and low VLA-4 expression each correlated with worse prognosis in adults; patients with high CXCR4 expression had shorter disease-free survival (p=0.01) and overall survival (p=0.04) and patients with low VLA-4 expression had shorter disease-free survival (p=0.02). Expression levels of CXCR4 and VLA-4 did not predict patient prognosis in children. Analysis of CXCR4 and VLA-4 expression at diagnosis in adults with ALL can provide useful information on patient prognosis.

Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Adult; CXCR4; Prognostic marker; Survival; VLA-4.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Integrin alpha4beta1 / metabolism*
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism*
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Receptors, CXCR4