Downregulated miR-217 expression predicts a poor outcome in acute myeloid leukemia

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Yan, Jinhua^a | Wu, Guohe^a | Chen, Jianlan^a | Xiong, Lifang^a | Chen, Guoan^{b; 1; *} | Li, Ping^{a; 1; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330008, China | [b] Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding authors: Guoan Chen, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17, Yongwai Centre Street, East Lake District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330006, China. E-mail: ncu_guoan2000@sohu.com.PingLi,DepartmentofHematology,TheThirdAffiliatedHospitalofNanchangUniversity,No.128,XiangshanNorthRoad,EastLakeDistrict,NanchangCity,Jiangxi330008,China.Tel./Fax:+86079188862270;E-mail:p72123@sina.com.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in the development and progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the clinical value of serum miR-217 in AML remained poorly known. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the clinical significance of serum miR-217 in AML. METHODS:Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect miR-217 levels in the blood samples obtained from 89 AML patients and 60 healthy controls. RESULTS: The results showed that miR-217 expression was significantly decreased in AML patients compared to controls. Likewise, serum miR-217 levels were greatly downregulated in the AML patients with poor risk cytogenetic. ROC analysis demonstrated that serum miR-217 could effectively differentiate AML patients from normal controls. Also, miR-217 expression was markedly increased in patients achieving complete remission after their treatment. In addition, low miR-217 expression was associated with aggressive clinical features. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that AML patients with low miR-217 expression tended to have shorter overall survival and disease free survival. In the multivariate analysis stratified for prognostic parameters, miR-217 was proved to be an independent prognostic indicator. CONCLUSIONS:Collectively, miR-217 was identified as an independent marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of AML.

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia, prognostic biomarker, miR-217, serum

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-170936

Journal: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 73-78, 2018