Abstract 1789
Background
FMS-Like Tyrosine Kinase III (FLT3 / CD135), also known as stem cell tyrosine kinase 1 (STK1) or fetal liver kinase 2 (FLK2), belong to the group of class3 receptor of tyrosine kinase activity. The expression of FLT3 receptor is confined to early hematopoietic progenitor’s cells in normal BM. Even though new FLT3 mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) are increasing, the role of FLT3 receptor surface expression in AML and precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B-ALL) had infrequently been addressed.
Methods
To further evaluate the significance of FLT3 (CD135) expression in AML and pre B-ALL we investigated FLT3 level of expression in newly diagnosed 76 AML patients, 80 pre B-ALL patients and 72 healthy control donors by flowcytometry. The cut-off value for FLT3 positivity was 20%. FLT3 expression was correlated with standards prognostic parameters.
Results
We demonstrated FLT3 protein expression >20% in 68.4% of AML patients, its level was different in FAB subtypes with increasing levels in the following order: M1
Conclusions
High FLT3 expression can predict outcome and is associated with poor prognostic factors in AML while it is associated with good prognostic factors in ALL.
Clinical trial identification
Legal entity responsible for the study
Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin Elkom, Egypt.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Editorial Acknowledgement
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.