High expression of CPNE3 predicts adverse prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia

CPNE3, a member of a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding protein family, was identified as a ligand of ERBB2 and has a more general role in carcinogenesis. Here, we identified the prognostic significance of CPNE3 expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients based on two datasets. In the first microarray datasets (n=272), high CPNE3 expression (CPNE3high) was associated with adverse overall survival (OS, P < 0.001) and event-free survival (EFS, P < 0.001) comparing to low CPNE3 expression (CPNE3low). In the second independent group of AML patients (TCGA dataset, n=179), CPNE3high was also associated with adverse OS and EFS (OS, P = 0.01; EFS, P = 0.036). Notably, among CPNE3high patients, those received allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) had longer OS and EFS than those with chemotherapy alone (allogeneic HCT,n=40 vs. chemotherapy,n=46), but treatment modules play insignificant role in the survival of CPNE3low patients (allogeneic HCT,n=32 vs. chemotherapy,n=54). These results indicated that CPNE3high is an independent, adverse prognostic factor in AML and could guide treatment decisions towards allogeneic HCT. To understand its inherent mechanisms, we investigated genome-wide gene/microRNAs expression signatures and cell signalling pathways associated with CPNE3 expression. In conclusion, CPNE3high is an adverse prognostic biomarker for AML. Its effect may be attributed to the distinctive genome-wide gene/microRNA expression and related cell signaling pathways. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.