The prognostic value of CXCR4 in acute myeloid leukemia

CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR4) has been shown to be expressed in a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and is correlated with a poor prognosis. CXCR4 expression appears to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in a heterogeneous group of AML patients. To better assess its significance, we analyzed CXCR4 expression in a group of AML patients.

The prognostic value of CXCR4 expression in 53 patients with AML presenting between 2003 and 2008 was analyzed. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsy or clot sections were stained using immunohistochemical methods.

CXCR4 was expressed in 26 patients (49.1%). A patient age of less than 60 years (P=0.023), achievement of complete remission after induction therapy (P<0.001), and no CXCR4 expression (P=0.010) were all associated with better progression-free survival (PFS). Among mutations of NPM1, CEBPA, FLT3 ITD, and FLT3 D835 and expression of CXCR4, only CXCR4 expression was associated with PFS (P=0.010; by log-rank test). By multivariate analysis, CXCR4 expression was an independent prognostic factor (P=0.001 for PFS and P=0.001 for overall survival). CXCR4 expression in patients with a normal karyotype was detected in 15 of 22 patients (68.2%, relative ratio 4.46, P=0.035). Expression of CXCR4 in normal-karyotype AML showed inferior PFS (median 2.0 vs. 10.7 mo, P=0.026) and had a trend toward inferior overall survival (median 10.8 vs. 14.0 mo, P=0.058).

These results suggest that CXCR4 expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with AML. Specifically, CXCR4 expression is common in normal-karyotype AML and is a marker of more aggressive disease in this population. CXCR4 expression could be incorporated into the risk assessment of patients with AML.