CpG island methylator phenotype and its relationship with prognosis in adult acute leukemia patients

To investigated the relationship between CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) and prognosis in adults with acute leukemia.

Bone marrow samples from 53 acute myeloid leukemia and 50 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients were collected. The methylation status of 18 tumor suppressor genes was determined using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction.

Greater than 30% of acute leukemia patients had methylated p15, p16, CDH1, CDH13, RUNX3, sFRP1, ID4, and DLC-1 genes; methylation of ≥4 were defined as CIMP positive. Age, type of leukemia, white blood cell count, and CIMP status were significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) (P < 0.05). CIMP status was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio: 2.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-4.15, P = 0.040). CIMP-negative patients had significantly improved RFS and OS (P < 0.05). p16 and DLC1 methylation was significantly associated with RFS and OS (P < 0.05).

CIMP may serve as an independent risk factor for evaluating the prognosis of patients with acute leukemia.