Analysis of the correlation between immunophenotype and prognostic risk stratification in patientes with acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic neoplasm of the myeloid lineage, characterized by the proliferation of myeloid blasts in the bone marrow, in the peripheral blood and/or in other tissues. The treatment of patients with AML depends on the definition of the disease subtype and on the prognostic risk stratification. The analysis of genetic and molecular abnormalities present at diagnosis has significantly improved risk stratification and post-remission therapy choices, but it is not capable of predicting the occurrence of relapses with complete accuracy. Therefore, in order to improve risk stratification and detection of treatment-resistant leukemic cells, the identification of novel prognostic factors is worth. In this context, this study aims to elucidate the correlation between the genetic risk groups tratification in AML patients treated at the University Hospital of Ribeirão Preto Medical School and two multiparametric flow cytometry characteristics of the leukemic cells analyzed at diagnosis: the presence of different aberrant immunophenotypes, defined as patterns of surface-antigen expression typical of the neoplastic cells; and the quantification of leukemic stem cells (LSCs), which are possibly correlated with the initiation and persistence of the disease. In addition, clinical and laboratorial characteristics of the patients will be analyzed. With such knowledge, we expect to contribute to the elucidation of leukemicimmunophenotypes associated with the known prognostic factors, which can improve risk group stratification and therapy management for AML patients.