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Molecular Targets for Therapy

Correlation of neuropilin-1 overexpression to survival in acute myeloid leukemia

Leukemia volume 20, pages 1950–1954 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), a vascular endothelial growth factors and semaphorin receptor functioning as mediator of angiogenesis and neuronal guidance, is expressed by various solid tumors. The importance of NRP-1 in hematological malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we determined NRP-1 expression by immunohistochemical analysis of bone marrow biopsies of patients with newly diagnosed, untreated AML. The expression of NRP-1 was significantly increased in AML patients (n=76; median 12.9 arbitrary units (a.u.)) as compared with controls (n=38; median 2.75 a.u.). Survival was significantly poorer in patients with high (>median) versus low (⩽median) NRP-1 expression levels with 5-year overall survival rates of 16.9 versus 49.6% (P=0.050). In conclusion, our data provide evidence of increased NRP-1 expression in AML with significant correlation to survival. Thus, NRP-1 might constitute a promising target for antileukemic and antiangiogenic treatment strategies in AML.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mrs Margret Lindermann, Department of Medicine/Hematology and Oncology for her excellent technical support, to Dr Joachim Gerss, Coordinating Centre for Clinical Trials for his statistical advice and to Dr Horst Buerger, Gerhard-Domagk Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Germany. This work was supported by grants from the ‘Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft’ (Me 950/3-2) and the program ‘Innovative Medizinische Forschung’ (KR 110303) of the Medical Faculty at the University of Muenster, Germany.

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  1. M Kreuter & M Steins

    Present address: Department of Oncology, Clinic for Thoracic Diseases at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine/Hematology and Oncology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany

    M Kreuter, K Woelke, R Bieker, C Schliemann, M Steins, T Buechner, W E Berdel & R M Mesters

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Correspondence to R M Mesters.

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Kreuter, M., Woelke, K., Bieker, R. et al. Correlation of neuropilin-1 overexpression to survival in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 20, 1950–1954 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404384

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