Evaluation of the expression of CD200 and CD56 in CD34-positive adult acute myeloid leukemia and its effect on the response to induction of chemotherapy

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by an excess number of myeloid cells in the marrow with maturation arrest and infiltration of bone marrow (BM) and other tissues by myeloblasts, resulting in BM failure.Objectives: The main goal of the present study is to investigate CD200 and CD56 aberrant expression in CD34-positive blasts, in newly diagnosed adult AML patients and their relation with the clinical and hematological parameters, as well as to identify their prognostic significance after induction therapy.Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study on thirty patients with newly diagnosed AML, who were tested for the expression of CD200, CD56 using multicolor flow cytometry and re-evaluated after induction therapy regimen.Results: CD200 and CD56 were aberrantly expressed in 53.3% and 20.0%, respectively, while coexpression of both markers was observed in 13.3%. Interestingly, both markers were expressed more in monocytic subtypes. Significantly, the induction failure in CD200 + patients was 75%, while it was 66.7% in CD56+ patients.Conclusion: The findings of this research provide insights that CD200 and CD56 were closely related to bad prognostic parameters, including high total white blood cell count, low platelet's counts, and low response to induction therapy.