Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors can predict TKI treatment-free remission in chronic myeloid leukemia patients

Exp Hematol. 2015 Dec;43(12):1015-1018.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.exphem.2015.08.004. Epub 2015 Aug 22.

Abstract

Several factors are predictive of treatment-free remission (TFR) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but few data exist on the role of natural killer (NK) cells and their killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). KIR and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes were investigated in 36 CML patients who discontinued tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment after achieving deep molecular response (MR(4.5)). Cumulative TFR was significantly higher in patients homozygous for KIR A haplotype (85.7% vs. 45.5%; p = 0.029). Younger age, Bx haplotype, and the combination KIR3DS1/KIR3DL1 present/HLA-Bw4 present were significantly associated with relapse. KIR genotypes could prove useful in identifying patients that are likely to maintain MR(4.5) after discontinuing TKI treatment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* / immunology
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Receptors, KIR3DL1 / immunology*
  • Receptors, KIR3DS1 / immunology*
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • KIR3DL1 protein, human
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, KIR3DL1
  • Receptors, KIR3DS1