Chemotherapy: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

CD34-Negative is Highly Associated with T (15;17), T (V; 11q23) and the NPM1-Mutation Subtypes in 343 Newly Diagnosed Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Hong-Hu Zhu, Yan-Rong Liu and Ya-Zhen Qin

Objective: Recent reports found that several cytogenetic or molecular subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are associated with CD34-positive. However, the status of CD34-negative in AML needs to be explored. In this study, we aimed to explore the prevalence of the CD34-negative patients and its association with molecular genetics status in a large consecutive AML cohort. Methods: A group of 343 consecutive newly diagnosed AML patients was retrospectively analyzed in our center. CD34 expression was detected by flow cytometry and considered negative when it was expressed in less than 20% of the bone marrow blast cells. The karyotype was analyzed by the G-banding technique. Leukemic fusion genes and mutated genes were detected by PCR method. Results: CD34-negative was found in 143 (41.7%) of the 343 patients. According to FAB classification, the percentages of CD34-negative patients were higher in the M3 and M5 (100% and 70%, respectively) and lower in the M2 and M4 subtypes (30.3% and 21.2%, respectively). According to the WHO classification, the percentage of CD34-negative patients was higher in those with t(15; 17), t(v; 11q23), and the NPM1-mutation (100%, n=37; 100%, n=7; and 81.7%, n=71, respectively) and lower in those with t(8;21) and AML with MDS-related changes (8.6%, n=35 and 5.0%, n=20, respectively). The patients with t(15; 17), t(v; 11q23) and the NPM1-mutation consisted of 71.3% (102/143) of the CD34-negative population and 6.5% (13/200) of the CD34-positive population (p