Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - National Cancer Institute - Department of Clinical Pathology

Introduction: Neuropilins are single-pass trans-membrane glycoproteins that were found to be receptors for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of angiogenesis factors, VEGF is an important cytokine that contributes to disease evolution in various myeloid neoplasms. Aim of the work : the aim of study was to evaluate Neuropilin-1(NRP-1) gene expression Pattern in AML patients and its role in disease severity and progression. Patients and Methods: In our study ,we analysed NRP-1 expression level in 50 de novo AML patients and 10 healthy subjects as controls using real -time PCR. Results: The present study included 33 males (66%) and 17 females (34%) ,their ages ranged from 1 to 73 years with a median of (34.5 ) ,a cut-off value of 60.2 (Relative Quantitation) was established statistically to dichomatize patients into two groups, High and Low NRP-1 expressors . A statistically significant correlation between high Neuropilin-1 expression was associated with monocytic differentiated FAB (M4 and M5) patients (P value = 0.002).There was also a significant correlation between high expression of NRP-1 and organomegaly (p value <0.001) . As well as between NRP1 fold -change and BM blasts ( r = 0.653, p=0.004) . In addition, there was a trend of high NRP-1 expression to be associated with PB blasts (P value = 0.099) . And there was a statistically significant impact between NRP-1 high expression and development of complications (P value < 0.001). There was no relation between NRP1 and Lab parameters , sex or age , however, younger age was associated with high NRP-1 expression (P value =0.049). There was no relation between NRP-1 and cytogenetic risk classes or FLT3 gene expression and overall survival of AML patients

Issued also as CD