Endothelial protein C receptor gene 6936A/G single-nucleotide polymorphism as a possible biomarker of thrombotic risk in acute myeloid leukemia

Protein C (PC) is a natural anticoagulant, which interacts with the endothelial PC receptor (EPCR). EPCR single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 6936A/G results in high levels of a free soluble form of EPCR (sEPCR) and may affect the risk of coagulation. The objective of this study was to assess whether the 6936A/G SNP of the EPCR gene is involved in the procoagulant activity displayed by hematological malignancies. EPCR 6936A/G polymorphism analysis was performed in 205 patients with hematological malignancies and in 63 healthy controls. All the subjects were genotyped for the EPCR 6936A/G SNP (AA, AG and GG genotypes). The 6936A/G polymorphism distribution was similar between healthy donors and patients. The association between EPCR 6936A/G SNP and thrombosis was investigated in 110 patients. The disease-wise break-up revealed that 55 of the patients suffered from acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In AML patients, the incidence of thrombosis was 28.3% and significantly higher in the 6936AG compared with that in the 6936AA genotype (50 vs. 22%, respectively). In conclusion, this study revealed a significant association of the 6936AG genotype of EPCR with thrombotic events in AML. Therefore, the presence of the 6936AG genotype in AML patients may be considered as a risk indicator of thrombosis.