Regulatory T cells in egyptian acute myeloid leukemia patients

Abstract

Introduction: Current treatments for AML have not changed for several decades and have not resulted in satisfactory outcomes. Modulating the immune system may improve survival in AML patient. Increasing evidence shows that Treg cell may play an important role in immune evasion mechanisms employed by cancer This work was designed to measure the frequency of regulatory cells T cells (Treg(in newly diagnosed adult acute myeloid leukemia patients (AML) and to correlate its percent with cytogenetic study and clinical outcome. Material and Methods: This study was conducted on 50 subjects divided into two groups: 25 AML cases(group 1) admitted to Hematology Unit, Alexandria Main University Hospital, Egypt and 25 healthy subjects(group 2) of matched age and sex. Detection of Treg was done to both groups by Multi-Color Flow Cytometry Kit. Results: Treg value was higher in AML patients at diagnosis compared to healthy controls. No significant difference was present in the percent of Treg between the patients with normal and abnormal karyotype. Patients who achieved complete response after induction chemotherapy had lower Treg percent compared to those with persistent leukemia. Conclusion: From this study we can conclude that higher pretreatment Treg percentage may be a poor predictor to response to induction therapy.