Diagnostic value of CD117 in differential diagnosis of acute leukemias

Abstract

C-kit receptor (CD117) and its ligand, stem cell factor, play a key role in normal hematopoiesis. It has been demonstrated that its expression extremely increases in leukemias with myeloid commitment. We analyzed findings on CD117 expression together with other myeloid related markers in 203 de novo acute leukemias, referred to Iranian immunophenotyping centers: Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) and Baghiatallah Hospital (BH). All cases were characterized based on the French American British cooperative group (FAB) and European Group for Immunological Classification of Leukemias (EGIL). The cases comprised of 111 acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), 86 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 6 acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL). CD117 was positive in 75 % of AML and 50 % of AUL, whereas none of the ALL cases was positive for this marker. Although CD117 was positive in 100 % of M5a cases, no M5b positive was found (p = 0.036). The calculated specificity for myeloid involvement was 100 % for CD117 and CD33, and 98 % for CD13 and CD15 (p < 0.001). The calculated sensitivity for myeloid involvement was 83, 76, 64, and 41 % for CD13, CD117, CD33, and CD15, respectively (p < 0.001). We concluded that CD117 expression is a specific and rather sensitive marker for differential diagnosis between AML and ALL, and except for M5 subtypes, it fails to determine FAB subtypes; lack of expression in M5 can identify M5b. Therefore, it should be included in the routine primary panel for diagnosis of acute leukemias.

CD 117: Lineage assigning marker in acute myeloid leukemias

“…18 Present study showed a higher number of cases showing CD117 positivity (86.56%) in comparison to the study conducted by Ahmadi et al, where CD117 positivity was seen in 75 % of AML with none of the cases of ALL showing positivity for this marker. 19 Also in their study CD117 was positive in 100 % of M5a cases with no M5b cases being positive for this marker. Present study also showed a higher number of cases with CD117 positivity in comparison to the study conducted by Auewarakul CU et al, where out of 163 AML cases, 67% expressed CD117.…”

Association of XRCC1 Trp194 allele with risk of breast cancer, and Ki67 protein status in breast tumor tissues

“…The protein expression assessment was performed by scoring based on the percentage of stained cells and the intensity of nuclear stain, according to the method described previously. 22 - 24 …”

Oligonucleotide Aptamer-Mediated Precision Therapy of Hematological Malignancies

“… 53 developed a DNA aptamer specifically targeting CD117, a biomarker highly expressed by certain AML cells. 54 , 55 For the therapeutic study, the aptamer was conjugated with methotrexate (MTX) to generate Apt-MTX conjugates. This Apt-MTX conjugate showed significantly enhanced inhibition of cellular growth, triggered cell apoptosis, and induced G1 phase cell-cycle arrest of the AML cell line HEL and primary AML cells from patients, compared to MTX treatment alone, with negligible toxicity on off-target cells.…”