Background: Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that can be cytotoxic toward a large panel of solid tumors and hematological malignancies including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Such a cytotoxicity depends on various receptors. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) belong to these receptors and are involved in maturation process, then in the activation abilities of NK cells.
Methods: We investigated the prognostic impact of the KIR2DL5B genotype in 240 CML patients included in two clinical trials investigating tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) discontinuation: STIM and STIM2.
Results: After adjustment for standard risk factors in CML, we found that the inhibitory receptor KIR2DL5B-positive genotype was independently related to a delayed second deep molecular remission (HR 0.54, 95% CI [0.32-0.91], P = 0.02) after TKI rechallenge but not to time to first deep molecular remission or treatment-free remission rates.
Conclusion: These results suggest that KIR2DL5B could carry a role in lymphocyte-mediated control of leukemic residual disease control in patient with CML relapse.
Keywords: chronic myeloid leukemia; imatinib; killer immunoglobulin-like receptors; natural killer; treatment-free remission.
© 2019 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.