Increased expression of CD70 in relapsed acute myeloid leukemia after hypomethylating agents

Virchows Arch. 2024 Nov;485(5):937-941. doi: 10.1007/s00428-024-03741-8. Epub 2024 Feb 22.

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults. While induction chemotherapy leads to remission in most patients, a significant number will experience relapse. Therefore, there is a need for novel therapies that can improve remission rates in patients with relapsed and refractory AML. CD70 is the natural ligand for CD27 (a member of the TNF superfamily) and appears to be a promising therapeutic target. Consequently, there is considerable interest in developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy products that can specifically target CD70 in various neoplasms, including AML. In this study, we employed routine diagnostic techniques, such as immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, to investigate the expression of CD70 in bone marrow samples from treatment-naïve and relapsed AML patients after hypomethylating agents (HMA). Also, we evaluated the impact of HMA on CD70 expression and examined CD70 expression in various leukemic cell subsets and normal hematopoietic progenitors.

Keywords: CD70; HMA; relapsed acute myeloid leukemia; routine diagnostic technique.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • CD27 Ligand* / analysis
  • CD27 Ligand* / biosynthesis
  • CD27 Ligand* / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • CD27 Ligand
  • CD70 protein, human