Prognostic value of CXCR4 and FAK expression in acute myelogenous leukemia

We analysed, by flow cytometry, the "adhesive" phenotype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells from 36 patients treated in our institution. In univariate analysis, the main prognostic factor for CR achievement was lower CXCR4 expression (p=0.03). Overall survival (OS) was negatively influenced by higher CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) (p=0.01), very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) (p=0.01), and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression (p=0.04). Combination of these markers allowed to distinguish two prognostic groups: patients overexpressing 2 or 3 factors had a significantly shorter OS (p=0.015). CXCR4, VLA-4 and FAK are new phenotypic markers which could be helpful to establish risk-stratified therapeutic strategies.