This study was performed in 160 AML patients, 89 (55.6%) were male, 71 (44.4%) were female, and the median age was 54 years (range, 12–88years). De novo AML was found in 112/160 (70%) patients. Forty patients (25%) had high white blood cell (WBC) counts at diagnosis, defined as ≥50x109/L. The cytogenetic/molecular risk was favorable in 23/160 (14.4%) cases, intermediate in 65/160(40.6%), unfavorable in 56/160 (35.0%). CD34 was expressed in 119/160 (74.4%) patients, and FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutations were detected in only 19/160 (12%) patients, respectively. As for treatment, 88(55.0%) cases received standard cytarabine + anthracycline (7 + 3) chemotherapy, 72(45.0%) had less-intensive approaches. One-hundred seven patients (66.9%) received chemotherapy-only treatment whereas 38(23.7%) cases proceeded to allo-SCT and 15 patients(9.4%) received auto-SCT.
CD200 was positive in 100/160 (62.5%) cases. So according to the CD200 expression, the whole population were defined as the CD200 positive (CD200+) group and CD200 negative(CD200-) group , respectively. The relevant information of the patients at diagnosis in two groups was shown in Table 1. There was no difference in age, sex, WBC count, de novo acute leukemia, secondary leukemia, induction and consolidation chemotherapy between the two groups. CD200+group had more cytogenic/molecular unfavorable cases than CD200- group (56.0% vs 26.7%, p <0.001).CD200 was more frequently expressed in CD34 positive blast cells (p < 0.0001), while there was an inverse correlation with intermediate cytogenetic risk in two groups (30.0% vs 57.3%, p <0.001). NPM1 mutation less frequently in CD200+ group than CD200- group (5.0% vs 23.3%, p =0.0001).
All patients received induction chemotherapy and were evaluable for response. Factors affecting CR probability are listed in Table2.In univariate analysis, secondary disease (p = 0.012), unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular risk (p < 0.001) or CD200 positive were associated with reduced probability to achieve CR. CR was obtained in 34/100 (34%) in CD200+ and in 36/60 (60%) CD200- cases (p = 0.001). Patients with aberrant CD200 expression had near threefold less probability to obtain CR (HR 0.343, 95% CI 0.117–0.666). In multivariate analysis statistical significance was maintained by CD200(HR 0.438, 95% CI 0.214-0.894, p = 0.023) along with unfavorable cytogenetic risk (HR 0.304, 95% CI 0.112-0.820, p = 0.019).
Table 1
Clinical/biological characteristics at diagnosis
|
CD200+group(n=100)
|
CD200-group(n=60)
|
p
|
Age≥60yrs: n, (%)
|
46(46.0)
|
27(45.0)
|
0.902
|
Sex: M/F: n, (%)
|
36(36.0)
|
53(88.3)
|
0.388
|
WBC ≥ 50 × 10 9 /L: n, (%)
|
25(25.0)
|
15(25.0)
|
1
|
Type of leukemia:
|
|
|
0.557
|
De novo: n, (%)
|
76(76.0)
|
36(60.0)
|
|
Secondary: n, (%)
|
24(24.0)
|
24(40.0)
|
|
Cytogenetic/molecular risk:
|
|
|
|
Favorable: n, (%)
|
15(15.0)
|
8(13.3)
|
0.771
|
Intermediate: n, (%)
|
30(30.0)
|
36(60.0)
|
<0.001
|
Unfavorable: n, (%)
|
56(56.0)
|
16(26.7)
|
<0.001
|
CD 34 positive: n, (%)
|
94(94.0)
|
25(41.7)
|
<0.001
|
Flt3-ITD:
|
|
|
0.050
|
mutated: n, (%)
|
8(8.0)
|
11(18.3)
|
|
wild type: n, (%)
|
90(90.0)
|
46(76.7)
|
|
NA: n, (%)
|
2(2.0)
|
3(5.0)
|
|
NPM1:
|
|
|
0.001
|
mutated: n, (%)
|
5(5.0)
|
14(23.3)
|
|
wild type: n, (%)
|
90(90.0)
|
42(70.0)
|
|
NA: n, (%)
|
5(5.0)
|
4(6.7)
|
|
Response to induction:
|
|
|
0.001
|
CR1: n, (%)
|
34(34.0)
|
36(60.0)
|
|
No CR1: n, (%)
|
66(66.0)
|
24(40.0)
|
|
Standard induction chemotherapy: n, (%)
|
58(58.0)
|
30(50.0)
|
0.325
|
consolidation therapy
|
|
|
|
Auto-SCT: n, (%)
|
9(9.0)
|
6(10.0)
|
0.834
|
Allo-HSCT: n, (%)
|
26(26.0)
|
12(20.0)
|
0.388
|
Chemotherapy-only: n, (%)
|
65(65.0)
|
42(70.0)
|
0.367
|
Abbreviations yrs years old, WBC white blood cell count, CR1 complete remission after induction therapy, Auto-SCT autologous stem cell transplantation , Allo-SCT allogeneic stem cell transplantation , chemotherapy-only repeated chemotherapy consolidation.
Table 2
Uni and multivariate analysis of potential factors for CR
Univariate
|
Multivariate
|
|
OR (95%CI)
|
p
|
OR (95%CI)
|
p
|
Age ≥60yrs
|
0.667(0.354-1.254)
|
0.209
|
|
|
Secondary leukemia
|
0.344(0.150-0.791)
|
0.012
|
0.470(0.118-1.177)
|
0.107
|
WBC(≥50× 109/L)
|
0.615(0.293-1.293)
|
0.200
|
|
|
NPM1 mutated
|
1.911(0.724-5.042)
|
0.191
|
|
|
FLT3 mutated
|
1.180(0.452-3.083)
|
0.735
|
|
|
Intermediate cytogenetic/molecular risk
|
2.771(1.444-5.315)
|
0.002
|
0.922(0.353-2.411)
|
0.869
|
Unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular risk
|
0.231(0.117-0.456)
|
<0.001
|
0.304(0.112-0.820)
|
0.019
|
CD200 positive
|
0.343(0.117-0.666)
|
0.002
|
0.438(0.214-0.894)
|
0.023
|
CD34+
|
0.667(0.327-1.360)
|
0.265
|
|
|
Standard induction therapy
|
1.593(0.845-3.003)
|
0.150
|
|
|
Abbreviations yrs years old, WBC white blood cell count,CR1 complete remission after induction therapy, Auto-SCT autologous stem cell transplantation , Allo-SCT allogeneic stem cell transplantation , chemotherapy-only repeated chemotherapy consolidation.
At the time of analysis, 51/160 patients had relapsed and 109/160 remained in CR. Factors affecting DFS in uni- and multivariate analysis are listed in Table 3. CD200 expression, per se, did not impact on DFS. In univariate analysis an adverse effect on DFS was found for age ≥60yrs (HR 1.938, 95%CI 1.320-2.844, p =0.001),secondary leukemia(HR 1.821, 95%CI 1.195-2.774, p =0.005), standard chemotherapy (HR 1.821,95%CI 1.195-2.774,p=0.005) or unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular (HR 2.382, 95%CI 1.622-3.497, p <0.001),while there was an positive effect with NPM1 mutated (HR 0.480, 95%CI 0.249-0.929, p =0.029), CR1(HR 0.457 ,95%CI 0.309-0.677, p <0.001) ,and allo-SCT(HR 0.407 ,95%CI 0.244-0.677,P=0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed their positive role for DFS by NPM1 mutated (HR 0.487,95% CI 0.236-0.956, p=0.043) , CR1 (HR 0.518,95% CI 0.330-0.774, p=0.002) and allo-SCT (HR 0.187,95%CI 0.041-0.927, p=0.036) . Unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular risk retained their negative prognostic role(HR 1.594, 95%CI 1.049-2.423).
Table 3
Uni and multivariate analysis of factors for DFS
|
HR (95%CI)
|
p
|
HR (95%CI)
|
p
|
Age ≥60yrs
|
1.938(1.320-2.844)
|
0.001
|
1.007(0.639-1.817)
|
0.780
|
Secondary leukemia
|
1.821(1.195-2.774)
|
0.005
|
1.048(0.654-1.679)
|
0.845
|
WBC≥50×109/L
|
1.383(0.779-2.456)
|
0.269
|
|
|
NPM1 mutated
|
0.480(0.249-0.929)
|
0.029
|
0.487(0.243-0.978)
|
0.043
|
FLT3 mutated
|
0.922(0.506-1.679)
|
0.791
|
|
|
Unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular risk
|
2.382(1.622-3.497)
|
<0.001
|
1.594(1.049-2.423)
|
0.029
|
Standard chemotherapy
|
1.821(1.195-2.774)
|
0.005
|
1.229(0.733-2.062)
|
0.434
|
CD200 positivity
|
1.042(0.708-1.533)
|
0.837
|
|
|
CR1
|
0.457(0.309-0.677)
|
<0.001
|
0.518(0.339-0.791)
|
0.002
|
Allo-SCT
|
0.407(0.244-0.677)
|
0.001
|
0.187(0.039-0.893)
|
0.036
|
Abbreviations yrs years old, WBC white blood cell count,CR1 complete remission after induction therapy, Auto-SCT autologous stem cell transplantation , Allo-SCT allogeneic stem cell transplantation , chemotherapy-only repeated chemotherapy consolidation.
We then evaluated the long-term survival, 80 (50%) cases had died, with a 1-year OS in the whole population was 48.2%(95%CI 43.6-52.8),2-year OS 35.1%(95%CI 30-40.2) (Fig. 1).As shown in Table 4 and Figure 1, in entire population, CD200 did not had impact on OS(p=0.155). In univariate analysis OS was negatively affected by age of ≥60yrs (HR 2.346, 95%CI1.494-3.683, P<0.001), secondary AML (HR 12.034, 95%, CI 1.266-3.270, p =0.003), unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular risk(HR2.804 ,95%CI 1.772-4.432, p <0.001), standard chemotherapy(HR 2.034, 95% CI 1.266-3.270, p =0.003), chemotherapy-only (HR2.798, 95%CI 1.663-4.649, p =0.003),and Auto-SCT(HR3.295, 95%CI 1.202-9.029, p =0.020). In multivariate analysis, statistical significance was retained by age of ≥60yrs (HR 1.898, 95% CI 1.061-3.398, p =0.031), unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular status (HR 1.974, 95% CI 1.201-3.246, p =0.007), standard chemotherapy (HR 2.456, 95% CI 1.352-4.462, p =0.003), Auto-SCT (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5-3.2, p =0.019) and Allo-SCT(HR=0.149, 95%CI 0.030-0.747, p =0.021).
Table 4
Uni and Multivariate analysis of factors for OS
|
HR (95%CI)
|
p
|
HR (95%CI)
|
p
|
Age ≥60yrs
|
2.346(1.494-3.683)
|
<0.001
|
1.898(1.061-3.398)
|
0.032
|
Secondary leukemia
|
12.034(1.266-3.270)
|
0.003
|
1.256(0.739-2.134)
|
0.400
|
WBC≥50×109/L
|
1.480(0.894-2.451)
|
0.127
|
|
|
NPM1 mutated
|
0.332(0.133-0.826)
|
0.018
|
0.429(0.168-1.095)
|
0.077
|
FLT3 mutated
|
1.008(0.504-2.018)
|
0.982
|
|
|
CD34+
|
1.195(0.698-2.047)
|
0.517
|
|
|
Unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular risk
|
2.804(1.772-4.432)
|
<0.001
|
1.974(1.201-3.246)
|
0.007
|
Standard chemotherapy
|
2.034(1.266-3.270)
|
0.003
|
2.456(1.352-4.462)
|
0.003
|
CD200 positivity
|
1.431(0.873-2.346)
|
0.155
|
|
|
CR1
|
0.488(0.306-0.778)
|
0.003
|
0.615(0.373-1.013)
|
0.056
|
Chemotherapy-only
|
2.798(1.663-4.649)
|
<0.001
|
0.452(0.105-1.943)
|
0.286
|
Auto-SCT
|
3.295(1.202-9.029)
|
0.020
|
0.113(0.018-0.697)
|
0.019
|
Allo-SCT
|
0.447(0.254-0.788)
|
0.003
|
0.149(0.030-0.747)
|
0.021
|
Abbreviations yrs years old, WBC white blood cell count,CR1 complete remission after induction therapy, Auto-SCT autologous stem cell transplantation , Allo-SCT allogeneic stem cell transplantation , chemotherapy-only repeated chemotherapy consolidation.
In subgroup analysis we further evaluated the potential impact of CD200 expression in the presence of FLT3-ITD, NPM1 wild-type(wt), intermediate cytogenetic/molecular risk, standard chemotherapy, less-intensive approaches, chemotherapy-only treatment cases. CD200 expression defined groups had no effect on DFS, but with very poor OS among less-intensive approaches,1-year OS was 53.6% (95%CI 37.2-55.2) in CD200- patients, 48%( 95%CI 42.7-53.3)in CD200+ ones, and 2-year OS was 46.2%( 95%CI 37.2-55.2), 29.4%(95%CI 23.4-35.5) for CD200- and CD200+(P=0.006,Fig.2). As for chemotherapy-only treatment patients, 1-year OS in CD200+ group was 35.1% (95%CI 29- 41.8), CD200-group was 42.5%(95%CI 31.1-53.9)(P=0.032, Fig.3). CD200 did not affect outcome in the subgroup with FLT3 wt (P=0.169), NPM1 wt(P=0.366) and intermediate cytogenetic/molecular risk(P=0.610), standard chemotherapy(P=0.643).