Clinical significance of CD34CD117/CD34CD117 myeloblast-associated gene expression in t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia.

t(8;21)(q22;q22) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous hematological malignancy with a high relapse rate in China. Two leukemic myeloblast populations (CD34CD117 and CD34CD117) were previously identified in t(8;21) AML, and CD34CD117 cell proportion was determined as an independent factor for this disease outcome. Here, we examined the impact of CD34CD117/CD34CD117 myeloblast-associated gene expression on t(8;21) AML clinical prognosis. In this study, 85 patients with t(8;21) AML were enrolled. The mRNA expression levels of CD34CD117-associated genes (LGALS1, EMP3, and CRIP1) and CD34CD117-associated genes (TRH, PLAC8, and IGLL1) were measured using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Associations between gene expression and clinical outcomes were determined using Cox regression models. Results showed that patients with high LGALS1, EMP3, or CRIP1 expression had significantly inferior overall survival (OS), whereas those with high TRH or PLAC8 expression showed relatively favorable prognosis. Univariate analysis revealed that CD19, CD34CD117 proportion, KIT mutation, minimal residual disease (MRD), and expression levels of LGALS1, EMP3, CRIP1, TRH and PLAC8 were associated with OS. Multivariate analysis indicated that KIT mutation, MRD and CRIP1 and TRH expression levels were independent prognostic variables for OS. Identifying the clinical relevance of CD34CD117/CD34CD117 myeloblast-associated gene expression may provide new clinically prognostic markers for t(8;21) AML.