Endostatin serum level in acute myeloid leukemia

Increased levels of tumor angiogenesis have been demonstrated in variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of the study was to evaluate serum level of endostatin in newly diagnosed patients with AML before chemotherapy and after achieving complete remission (CR). Serum samples from 68 adult patients (28 females and 40 males, median age 42 years, range 21-83 years) with AML had been taken before chemotherapy was administered. In addition 21 out of 68 patient were analyzed again after achieving CR. Endostatin levels were measured using ChemiKine sandwich ELISA kit (Chemicon International). Twelve samples from healthy volunteers (5 females and 7 males, median age 40 years; range 35-65 years) were evaluated as the control. Endostatin serum levels were significantly higher in untreated AML patients than in the normal controls. In AML patients baseline endostatin levels were significantly lower than in CR. We did not found any correlation between white cell count or percentage of blasts in the bone marrow and endostatin level. Moreover endostatin levels did not differ statistically among AML FAB subgroups. Increased endostatin plasma levels may reflect intensity of inhibition of angiogenesis and may by useful in prognosis of CR in AML. Chemotherapy can modulate the regulation of angiogenesis in AML patients.