In:
British Journal of Haematology, Wiley, Vol. 139, No. 3 ( 2007-11), p. 450-457
Abstract:
Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a pivotal role in cellular survival/death decisions with the low affinity receptor p75NTR predominately transmitting anti‐proliferative signals. In spite of its established role in B‐cell function and identification as a prognostically favourable marker in a number of malignancies, little is known about the expression pattern and prognostic significance of p75NTR in B cell precursor‐acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP‐ALL). p75NTR expression was prospectively studied on primary ALL‐blasts in a cohort of paediatric patients with common ALL ( n = 86) and preB‐ALL ( n = 34) treated within the Co‐operative study group for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (CoALL) protocol, CoALL06‐97. Flow cytometric analysis showed that almost half of the patients expressed no or negligible amounts of p75NTR ( 〈 10%). The median expression in patients expressing p75NTR beyond that threshold was 49% (range 11–100%). In patients classified as low‐risk at diagnosis, p75NTR expression was significantly higher than in high‐risk patients ( P = 0·001). Of note, p75NTR expression was lower in the 21 patients who subsequently developed relapse compared with those remaining in remission ( P = 0·038). Accordingly, relapse‐free survival was significantly better in patients expressing high surface p75NTR ( P = 0·041). Thus, in this prospective analysis, high p75NTR expression was a strong prognostic marker that identified a group of paediatric ALL patients with favourable outcome.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0007-1048
,
1365-2141
DOI:
10.1111/bjh.2007.139.issue-3
DOI:
10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06818.x
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2007
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1475751-5