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Soluble CD44 and CD44v6 and prognosis in children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Zahra Amirghofran1, Elham Asiaee2, Fatemeh M Kamazani1
1Department of Immunology, Autoimmune Disease Research Center and Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Insights
Soluble CD44 variant 6 (sCD44v6) was lower in children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) compared to healthy controls. This suggests sCD44v6 may have diagnostic value for B-ALL.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- CD44v6 is an isoform of CD44, detectable in soluble form (sCD44v6).
- Soluble CD44 (sCD44) and its variant sCD44v6 are investigated for their roles in various cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the presence of sCD44 and sCD44v6 in the serum of children diagnosed with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).
- To determine the relationship between sCD44 and sCD44v6 levels and the prognosis of B-ALL in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from children with B-ALL and healthy controls were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify sCD44v6 and sCD44 levels.
- The measured levels were correlated with clinical and laboratory characteristics at diagnosis and response to therapy.
Main Results:
- Serum sCD44v6 levels were significantly lower in pediatric B-ALL patients compared to healthy controls (103.4 ± 44 ng/mL vs. 173.5 ± 73.6 ng/mL).
- No significant difference in serum sCD44 levels was observed between patients and controls.
- sCD44v6 levels were inversely correlated with sCD44 levels in patients (r = -0.57, P < 0.01).
- sCD44v6 was higher in TEL/AML1-positive patients, while sCD44 was associated with white blood cell count, blast percentage, and extramedullary involvement.
Conclusions:
- The reduced level of sCD44v6 in B-ALL patients suggests its potential as a diagnostic biomarker.
- While sCD44v6 and sCD44 showed associations with prognostic factors, their direct relationship with B-ALL treatment outcomes requires further investigation in larger cohorts.
Aim:
CD44v6 is an isoform of CD44 that can be present in soluble form (sCD44v6). The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of soluble CD44 (sCD44) and sCD44v6 in serum of children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and their relationship with prognosis.
Methods:
sCD44v6 and sCD44 levels were measured in the sera of patients and healthy children by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The level of the molecules was analyzed in relation to laboratory and clinical characteristics of the patients at presentation and response to therapy.
Result:
sCD44v6 was significantly lower in patients (103.4 ± 44 ng/mL) than in controls (173.5 ± 73.6 ng/mL) whereas the serum level of sCD44 showed no significant difference between the groups. In patients, sCD44v6 quantity was inversely correlated with sCD44 level (r = -0.57, P < 0.01). The mean serum level of sCD44 in patients with >20% positivity for CD44 surface expression was greater than that in patients with ≤20% positivity (1345 ± 409 ng/mL vs 1111 ± 390 ng/mL, P = 0.05). sCD44v6 showed no significant association with response to therapy and prognostic factors except the TEL/AML1 positivity, as it was higher in TEL/AML1 positive patients (157.3 ± 55.6 ng/mL) than negative ones (92 ± 43.6 ng/mL, P = 0.036). Conversely, sCD44 was lower in TEL/AML1 positive patients and showed a significant association with white blood cell number, blast percentage and extramedullary involvement.
Conclusion:
The lower level of sCD44v6 in patients than in controls suggests the possible diagnostic value of this molecule for B-ALL. The presence of an association with established prognostic factors despite of no relationship with disease outcome suggested these molecules for more studies in larger patient cohorts.
