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The clinical significance of CD34 expression in response to therapy of patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Author(s) -
Kanda Yoshinobu,
Hamaki Tamae,
Yamamoto Rie,
Chizuka Aki,
Suguro Miyuki,
Matsuyama Tomohiro,
Takezako Naoki,
Miwa Akiyoshi,
Kami Masahiro,
Hirai Hisamaru,
Togawa Atsushi
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(20000601)88:11<2529::aid-cncr14>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , myeloid leukemia , confidence interval , cd34 , clinical significance , odds ratio , oncology , statistical significance , leukemia , stem cell , genetics , biology
BACKGROUND Although many studies have been performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of CD34 expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the findings have been inconsistent. In this study, the authors reviewed such previous studies to establish a definite conclusion. METHODS Using MEDLINE, the authors identified studies that evaluated the prognostic significance of CD34 expression in AML. The outcome measure was the complete remission rate. They used the random‐effect method to combine the results. Results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The ORs were less than 1 if the complete remission occurred more frequently in the CD34 negative group. RESULTS Twenty‐two studies including 2483 patients were reviewed. The combined OR was 0.38 (95% CI, 0.26–0.57), which suggested that CD34 expression was associated with a poor remission rate. However, the authors found statistical evidence of marked heterogeneity among trials ( P < 0.001), especially according to time of publication. The combined OR in studies published in or after 1994 was 0.70 (95% CI, 0.47–1.09). The authors divided the studies into several subgroups, but they could not determine the reason for the heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS At present, CD34 expression should not be considered a marker of poor prognosis because it is not supported by the combined data from recent studies. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the intensity of CD34 expression in specific populations of patients, such as those with t(8;21) or t(15;17) translocations or the AML‐M0 subtype. Cancer 2000;88:2529–33. © 2000 American Cancer Society.