Expression of CD 25 independently predicts early treatment failure of acute myeloid leukaemia ( AML )

Expression of CD25 independently predicts early treatment failure of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) CD25+ CD34+ CD38À leukaemic cells have been shown to be chemotherapy-resistant and initiate acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in xenograft models, suggesting a leukaemic stem cells (LSC) biology (Saito et al, 2010).High CD25 (also known as interleukin 2 receptor alpha, IL2RA) expression (>10%) at diagnosis in young (<60 years) AML patients in retrospective analysis correlated with a significantly shorter overall survival (OS, P = 0Á0005) and relapse-free survival (RFS, P = 0Á005).CD25 expression was also associated with FLT3-internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation, and double positive patients had the poorest OS and RFS (P = 0Á001 and P = 0Á003, respectively; Terwijn et al, 2009).Table I.Clinical and molecular characteristics of patients based on CD25 expression (unadjusted).