Overexpressed let-7a-3 is associated with poor outcome in acute myeloid leukemia

Leuk Res. 2013 Dec;37(12):1642-7. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2013.09.022. Epub 2013 Sep 30.

Abstract

Dysregulation of microRNA let-7a-3 has been identified in several solid tumors and is associated with prognosis of patients. However, the pattern of let-7a-3 expression and the impact on prognosis has not yet been studied in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression status of let-7a-3 and its clinical significance in AML patients using real-time quantitative PCR. Overexpression of let-7a-3 was identified in 25 of 102 (25%) de novo AML. There was no significant difference in age, blood parameters, FAB/WHO subtypes, karyotype risks and nine gene mutations (FLT3-ITD, NPM1, C-KIT, IDH1/IDH2, DNMT3A, C/EBPA and N/K-RAS) between patients with and without let-7a-3 overexpression (P>0.05). The patients with let-7a-3 overexpression had similar rates of complete remission (CR) as those without let-7a-3 overexpression (50% vs. 56%, P=0.693). Although the overall survival (OS) of AML patients with let-7a-3 overexpression (median 12 months,) was shorter than those without overexpression (median 25 months), the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.228). However, among those 51 obtained CR, patients with let-7a-3 overexpression had significantly shorter OS than those without let-7a-3 overexpression (P=0.029). The difference in relapse-free survival (RFS) was also significant between two groups (P=0.005). These findings suggest that let-7a-3 overexpression is a common event and is associated with poor clinical outcome in AML.

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; MicroRNA; Prognosis; let-7a-3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / mortality*
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nucleophosmin
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MicroRNAs
  • NPM1 protein, human
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human
  • Nucleophosmin