Expression level and prognostic potential of beta-catenin–interacting protein in acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Inhibitor of beta-catenin and TCF (ICAT) is a key protein in the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway. However, its role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unknown. In this study, we evaluated its expression level as well as its prognostic value in AML patients. A total of 72 patients with AML and 30 control subjects were enrolled in this study during the period of January 2017 and December 2019 at Zhongshan Hospital of SunYat-sen University. ICAT and β-catenin expression levels in peripheral blood were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. ICAT levels in AML patients were significantly lower and β-catenin levels were higher than those of the control group. After the first course of standard chemotherapy, the concentration of ICAT in the partial remission group (93.79 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that in the initial diagnosis group (49.38 ng/mL) and the no response group (39.94 ng/mL). AML subtypes had lower ICAT expression levels than controls, and ICAT levels were significantly correlated with body mass index, bone marrow/peripheral blood blast cell proportions, and white blood cell and red blood cell counts at initial diagnosis. Furthermore, low ICAT expression was found to be associated with poor disease-free survival and overall survival in AML. ICAT is closely associated with AML progression and can be used as an indicator to monitor AML treatment efficacy.

Transcriptome analysis of beta-catenin-related genes in CD34+ haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from patients with AML

“…In spite of the development of treatment possibilities, AML is still the most common haematological malignancy in terms of incidence and cancer-related deaths. 21 It has also been known for over 15 years that beta-catenin dysregulation 15 in AML promotes the development, protection and drug resistance of leukaemia stem cells. Despite this knowledge, β-catenin inhibitors have not yet reached the clinic.…”

“…Numerous studies on the gene expression levels of beta-catenin, an essential component of the Wnt pathway, have been reported in the literature. Serinsöz et al (2004), 8 Simon et al (2005), 9 Ysebaert et al (2006), 10 Xu et al (2008), 11 Chen et al (2009), 12 Gandillet et al (2011), 13 Li et al (2018), 5 Jiang et al (2018), 14 Morgan et al (2019), 6 Wagstaff et al (2022), 7 and Han et al (2022) 15 are among the research that have made major contributions. These studies, conducted in a consistent manner, have revealed significant differences in beta-catenin expression levels among AML patient groups.…”