Abstract
Introduction: CD34+CD38-stem cells were identified as the most related markers to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) progression, resistance, and relapse. However, there is still a lack of published data identifying the level of CD34 and CD38 during induction chemotherapy and after complete remission.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the levels of CD34+CD38+progenitor cells and CD34+CD38-stem cells in AML patients at diagnosis and after induction chemotherapy.
Patients and Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Both CD34 and CD38 cell markers were identified using flow cytometry in newly diagnosed AML patients and after induction chemotherapy.
Results: Forty newly diagnosed AML patients (27 males and 13 females) were followed up after induction chemotherapy. Results revealed a statistically significant decline (P≤0.05) in CD34+CD38-stem cell levels as well as in CD34+CD38+progenitor cell levels in AML patients who achieved complete or incomplete remission compared to newly diagnosed AML patients. Besides, age and CD34+CD38-stem cells exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation at diagnosis.
Conclusion: Our study showed CD34+CD38-stem cells are associated with disease progression and poor survival in AML patients. We concluded that, CD34 and CD38 are promising follow-up markers for AML patients on induction chemotherapy. In order to keep AML patients in full remission and increase their chances of survival, medications that target leukemic stem cells (LSCs) should be used in conjunction with the usual chemotherapy that targets blasts.