Multidimensional study of the heterogeneity of leukemia cells in t(8;21) acute myelogenous leukemia identifies the subtype with poor outcome
Lu Jiang, Xue‐Ping Li, Yu-Ting Dai, Bing Chen, Xiangqin Weng, Shu-Min Xiong, Min Zhang, Jinyan Huang, Chen Zhu, Sai‐Juan Chen
Abstract
Significance t(8;21) acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) often presents different degrees of aberrant myeloid differentiation. Although most patients respond to current chemotherapy regimens, a sizeable number of patients are prone to relapse. Thus, the cellular heterogeneity and disease outcome may need exploration. Here, by integrating high-throughput DNA/RNA sequencing with phenotypic analysis, heterogeneous leukemic cell populations were identified. CD34 + CD117 dim myeloblasts had the characteristics of granulocyte-monocyte progenitors and might be responsible for drug-resistance. CD34 + CD117 bri and AM cells were blocked later than CD34 + CD117 dim cells, and AM cells were sensitive to chemotherapy. t(8;21) AML patients with a high proportion of CD34 + CD117 dim cells had inferior outcomes. The identification of the CD34 + CD117 dim proportion as a potential prognostic factor may lead to new tools for future tailored therapeutic strategies.