Overexpression of LEF1 predicts unfavorable outcome in adult patients with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Blood. 2011 Dec 8;118(24):6362-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-04-350850. Epub 2011 Oct 18.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway plays a pathogenetic role in various tumors and has been associated with adverse outcome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). LEF1, a key mediator of Wnt signaling, has been linked to leukemic transformation, and recurrent mutations of LEF1 have been identified in pediatric T-ALL. Here we evaluated the prognostic significance of LEF1 expression in B-precursor ALL patients. LEF1 expression was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in 282 adult B-precursor ALL patients treated on 06/99 and 07/03 GMALL trials. Patients were grouped into quartiles (Q1-Q4) according to LEF1 expression levels (LEF1 high, Q4; n = 71; LEF1 low, Q1-Q3; n = 211). Patients with high LEF1 expression had a significantly shorter relapse-free survival (RFS) compared with low LEF1 expressers (5-year RFS: LEF1 high, 27%; LEF1 low, 47%; P = .05). Importantly, high LEF1 expression was also associated with inferior RFS in standard-risk patients and was independently predictive for RFS (P = .02) in multivariate analyses for this subgroup. Thus, high LEF1 expression identifies B-precursor ALL patients with inferior RFS, supporting a pathogenetic role of Wnt signaling in ALL. Standard-risk patients with high LEF1 expression might benefit from early treatment modifications and new molecular therapies, including agents targeting the Wnt pathway.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / chemistry
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / genetics
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutant Proteins / chemistry
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Proteins / chemistry
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / physiopathology
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction
  • Survival Analysis
  • Up-Regulation*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • LEF1 protein, human
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger