Abstract
Angiogenesis plays an important role in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. The angiopoietins act as essential regulators in this process. We investigated the impact of circulating angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and soluble Tie2 (sTie2) on overall survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ang-1, Ang-2 and sTie2 were measured in plasma samples from 68 AML patients and 11 controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Circulating levels of Ang-2 and sTie2 (median (range): 1098.0 (361.4–4147.6) pg/ml and 3.40 (1.21–10.00) ng/ml, respectively) were significantly elevated in AML patients as compared to controls (307.9 (199.7–1225.0) pg/ml and 2.88 (1.71–3.29) ng/ml; P<0.001 and P=0.014). In a univariate Cox proportional hazards model, higher levels of Ang-2 and sTie2 were predictive of poor survival. In multivariate analyses, Ang-2 and cytogenetics proved to be independent prognostic factors, with a relative risk of 4.07 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88–8.81) and 2.70 (95% CI 1.25–5.81), respectively. The 3-year survival rate for AML patients with Ang-2 levels⩾1495.6 pg/ml was only 14.7% compared to 64.7% for those with Ang-2 levels<1495.6 pg/ml. These data provide evidence that circulating Ang-2 represents an independent prognostic factor in AML and may be used as a prognostic tool in the risk-adapted management of AML.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG ME 950/3-2) and the Interdisciplinary Center of Clinical Research Münster (IZKF Project no. Kess 2/023/04).
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Schliemann, C., Bieker, R., Thoennissen, N. et al. Circulating angiopoietin-2 is a strong prognostic factor in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 21, 1901–1906 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404820
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404820
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