Expression and prognostic value of FAS receptor/FAS ligand and TrailR1/TrailR2 in acute myeloid leukemia

We studied the expressions of FR, FL, TR1, and TR2 on blasts and T cells from 71 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and correlated expression rates with the clinical course. Compared to AML-blasts we found higher co-expressions on healthy myeloid and T cells. Expression of all markers on blasts and on T cells was similar in different subtypes and acute stages of AML. Compared to the non-responders (n=7) responders to the AML Cooperative Group-therapy (n=22) presented with higher proportions of blasts co-expressing the four markers (FR: 32 vs 15%; FL: 15 vs 13%; TR1: 72 vs 37%; TR2: 24 vs 23%) or T cells (FR: 88 vs 71%; FL: 76 vs 56%; TR1: 96 vs 44%; TR2: 54 vs 42%). Patients with higher expression rates of TR1 on blasts (>= 48%) and on T cells (>= 67%) were characterized by a prolonged survival. In summary, our data show a variable expression of FR, FL, TR1 and TR2 on blasts or T cells in different subgroups of AML. Higher co-expression rates of FR, FL, TR1 and TR2 were characterized by a better prognosis for the patients with respect to achieve a remission and to survive. Functional analyses should be performed to find out those patients in who induced upregulation of these markers could contribute to overcome drug resistance.