Expression of costimulatory molecule B7-H3 and its prognostic implications in human acute leukemia

摘要

Objectives This study focused on the expression pattern and clinical significance of B7-H3 expression in human acute leukemia. Methods We systematically analyzed 134 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (101 cases) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (33 cases) by flow cytometry. Results The frequency of B7-H3sup+/sup cases was 44.8% in total. The B7-H3 expression rate differed from 0% to 74.8% in individual cases. The correlation between B7-H3 expression and traditional prognostic factors, such as age and gender, the white blood cell count was not confirmed. However, B7-H3 had a significant higher expression in CD34sup+/sup cases and high risk karyotypes. Conclusions Owing to the expression of B7-H3 being statistically relevant in predicting disease progression and a shorter life survival, our results demonstrated that B7-H3 expression in acute leukemia predicts an unfavorable outcome.