Identification of TIM-3 Expression in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Clinical and Laboratory Correlation

Abstract

Abstract Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive highly heterogenous hematological malignancy associated with poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Both cancer cells and immune cells participate in tumor initiation, growth and progression and might affect clinical outcomes. Indeed, leukemic cells exploit a variety of mechanisms to evade immune response, leading to disease progression and relapse. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3), an immune checkpoint molecule, is expressed not only on immune cells but also on leukemic stem cells (LSCs) in AML. Studies relating to TIM-3 function in AML are limited, and the role of TIM3 in maintaining leukemic stem cells and contributing to the suppression of the anti-tumor immune response is still poorly understood. Aim of the Work To investigate TIM-3 expression in patients with AML and explore the impact of its expression on the clinico-laboratory characteristics and prognostic behavior of denovo-AML patients. Methods A total of 45 patients newly diagnosed AML patients were tested for TIM-3 expression by flowcytometry at diagnosis. Results TIM-3 was found to be over expressed in patients with AML with significant association with the different FAB subtypes (p = 0.010). TIM-3 positivity was negatively correlated with CD34 expression (p = 0.019.). However, no significant association between TIM-3 expression and extramedullary disease (EMD) as well as cytogenetic risk groups. Conclusion TIM-3 is overexpressed in AML patients. The prognostic value of TIM3 in AML is not clear and remains to be further explored.