Acute myeloid leukemia progression prognosticated by serum levels of sCD137

09-13-2006

Progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but not non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), could be prognosticated by serum levels of soluble (s) CD137 ligand (CD137L).

"CD178 (Fas/APO-1 ligand) and CD137L have previously been described in sera of patients with various malignancies and play an important role in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Recently, we demonstrated that low levels of sCD137L and high levels of sCD178 correlate significantly with a long progression free survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)," investigators in Germany reported.

"In this study, we correlated sCD137L and sCD178 levels in sera of 42 samples of patients with AML and 46 samples of patients with NHL with stages, subtypes, and the clinical course of the diseases and determined cut-off values with maximum probability for significant differentiation between cases with higher/lower probability for progress free survival," explained N. Hentschel and colleagues, University of Munich. "In contrast to patients with MDS, surprisingly no correlation between sCD178 levels and different subtypes and stages or with prognosis in AML or NHL were observed.

"Regarding sCD137L, NHL-patients displayed lower levels compared with AML. Statistically significant higher median levels of sCD137L are present in patients with undifferentiated AML (M1/M2, 1470 pg/mL), poor cytogenetic risk (288 pg/mL) and higher levels of BM-blasts (186 pg/mL) compared with patients with monocytoid AML (M4/M5, 89 pg/mL), intermediate cytogenetic risk (59 pg/mL) and lower levels of BM-blasts (14 pg/mL) respectively. Furthermore, in AML patients sCD137L levels correlate significantly with the probabilities to achieve complete remission (CR), stay in CR or with progress of the disease."

The researchers concluded, "Taken together, our data demonstrate that sCD137L can be used as a prognostic factor not only in MDS but also in AML."

Hentschel and colleagues published their study in European Journal of Haematology (Serum levels of sCD137 (4-1BB) ligand are prognostic factors for progression in acute myeloid leukemia but not in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Eur J Haematol, 2006;77(2):91-101).

For additional information, contact H.M. Schmetzer, University of Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern, Dept. of Med 3, Marchioninistr 15, D-81377 Munich, Germany.

The publisher of the European Journal of Haematology can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing, 9600 Garsington Rd., Oxford OX4 2DQ, Oxon, England.

Keywords: Munich, Germany, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, CD137 Ligand/4 1BB Ligand, CD178/Fas Ligand, Genetic Risk Factor, Genetics, Genomics, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Oncology, Pathogenesis, Prognosis, Prognostics.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.