Regulated expression of miR-99a and miR-100 relates clinical and prognostic parameters of acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a genetic disorder caused by translocations or mutations that disrupt hematopoietic function and lead to malignant transformation. In recent years, microRNA-99a and miR-100 have been found to exhibit abnormal expression in solid tumors, but their roles in AML remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the expression levels of these two microRNAs in AML and their prognostic significance.

We analyzed bone marrow samples from 156 newly diagnosed adult AML patients at Jiangsu Institute of Hematology (JIH) using miRNA microarray analysis. Results were validated via RT-qPCR in a non-overlapping cohort of 87 AML patients and 10 healthy controls.

miR-99a and miR-100 expression was significantly elevated in AML compared to controls. Expression of miR-99a and miR-100 was significantly decreased in CBF-AML (core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia) patients compared to non-CBF-AML patients. In AML patients, c-KIT mutational status was associated with the downregulated expression of miR-100. Moreover, low expression of miR-99a and miR-100 is associated with lower white blood cell (WBC) counts. Increased miR-100 levels in CBF-AML (with the t(8;21) subtype included) were associated with poor overall survival (OS); notably, within CBF-AML, the t(8;21) subtype AML patients showed the same trend, where higher miR-99a and miR-100 expression correlated with adverse OS.

These findings suggest that regulated expression of miR-99a and miR-100 is common in AML and that their expression correlates with prognosis in CBF-AML.