Discordant immunophenotypic profiles of adhesion molecules and cytokines in acute myeloid leukemia involving bone marrow and skin

The Role of CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR5, and CXCR6 Ligands in Molecular Cancer Processes and Clinical Aspects of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of leukemia known for its unfavorable prognoses, prompting research efforts to discover new therapeutic targets. One area of investigation involves examining extracellular factors, particularly CXC chemokines. While CXCL12 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 have been extensively studied, research on other CXC chemokine axes in AML is less developed. This study aims to bridge that gap by providing an overview of the significance of CXC chemokines other than CXCL12 (CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR5, and CXCR6 ligands and CXCL14 and CXCL17) in AML's oncogenic processes. We explore the roles of all CXC chemokines other than CXCL12, in particular CXCL1 (Gro-α), CXCL8 (IL-8), CXCL10 (IP-10), and CXCL11 (I-TAC) in AML tumor processes, including their impact on AML cell proliferation, bone marrow angiogenesis, interaction with non-leukemic cells like MSCs and osteoblasts, and their clinical relevance. We delve into how they influence prognosis, association with extramedullary AML, induction of chemoresistance, effects on bone marrow microvessel density, and their connection to French-American-British (FAB) classification and FLT3 gene mutations.

Aleukemia cutis: Clinicopathological and molecular investigation of two cases

We describe two cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who presented with cutaneous manifestations. Leukemia cutis (LC) is the cutaneous presentation of any type of leukemia and occurs in 10% to 15% of patients with AML, but cutaneous infiltration of AML rarely precedes the involvement of the bone marrow or peripheral blood and is called "aleukemia cutis." Our first case presented with facial skin thickening, a manifestation which is known as lionization and his initial clinical diagnosis was nonspecific allergic reaction. Our second case presented with urticaria-like lesions with the initial clinical and histomorphologic diagnoses of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Histopathologic examination of skin biopsy specimens in both patients showed diffuse infiltration of the dermis with a monotonous population of intermediate-sized mononuclear cells by open chromatin and promonocytic features. Bone marrow aspiration leukocyte karyotyping showed normal cytogenetics, and molecular investigation revealed mutations of NPM1 and FLT3 genes. Somatic CEBPA gene mutation was negative in both patients. LC as the first manifestation of leukemia is very rare and could result in delayed diagnosis and affect patient prognosis.

Adhesion Deregulation in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Cell adhesion is a process through which cells interact with and attach to neighboring cells or matrix using specialized surface cell adhesion molecules (AMs). Adhesion plays an important role in normal haematopoiesis and in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). AML blasts express many of the AMs identified on normal haematopoietic precursors. Differential expression of AMs between normal haematopoietic cells and leukaemic blasts has been documented to a variable extent, likely reflecting the heterogeneity of the disease. AMs govern a variety of processes within the bone marrow (BM), such as migration, homing, and quiescence. AML blasts home to the BM, as the AM-mediated interaction with the niche protects them from chemotherapeutic agents. On the contrary, they detach from the niches and move from the BM into the peripheral blood to colonize other sites, i.e., the spleen and liver, possibly in a process that is reminiscent of epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition in metastatic solid cancers. The expression of AMs has a prognostic impact and there are ongoing efforts to therapeutically target adhesion in the fight against leukaemia.