[Expression and Clinical Significance of Leukemia Stem Cell Antigen in Acute Myeloid Leukemia]

To analyze the expression characteristics of leukemia stem cell (LSC) antigen in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to explore the correation of LSC-specific antigens with the subtypes, cytogenetics and clinical efficacy of AML.

A total of 61 newly diagnosed patients with AML (except M3) hospltalized in Department of Hematology of our hopital were selected from January 2013 to March 2016. The immun phenotypes and expression of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123 on leucamia cells were detected by direct immunofluorescenct flow cytometry. 61 patients were divided into positive expression and megative expression groups according to expression of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123; the correlation of LSC antigen expression level with high WBC count, chromosome and therapeutic efficacy was analyzed.

Among 61 newly diagnosed patients with AML (except M3), the expression rate of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123 was 52.45%, 44.26% and 55.73% respectively. The expression rates of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123 between the AML subtypes and total patients was not stetistically different (P>0.05). The high WBC count occurred more easily in AML (except MS) patients with positive expression of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123, but compared with AML patients with negative espression, the difference was not statstically significant (P>0.05). The proportion of chromosone karyotype with poor prognosis detected in patients with positive expression of Tim-3 and CD96 was higher than that in patients with negative expreesion (P<0.05); while the preoprtion of chromosome karyotype with poor prognosis detected in patients with positive and negative expression of CD123 was not significantly different (P>0.05). After 2 courses of chemotherapy, the complete remission (CR) rate in patients with positive expression of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123 was significantly lower than that in patients with negative expression of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123 (P<0.05), the comparison of OS time in patients with positive and negative expression of Tim-3 and CD96 showed the statistical difference (P>0.05), while the difference of OS time in patients with positive and negative expression of CD123 was not significant (P>0.05).

The expression levels of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123 in newly diagnosed AML (except M3) sybtype patients are not significantly different form those in total patients. The high WBC count ocours more easily in patients with positive expression of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123. After 2 course of chemotherapy, the CR rate in patients with positive expression of Tim-3, CD96 and CD123 was significantly lower than that in patients with negative expression. The proportion of chromsome karyotype with poor prognosis detected in patients with positive expression of Tim-3 and CD96 is high, moreover, OS time in patients with positive expression of Tim-3 and CD96 is shorter than that in patients with negative expression.