Evaluation of clinical significances and anti-tumor effects with several prognostic factors in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Background: s: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant tumor of the hemopoietic system in adults. Although multiple signaling pathways are associated with this disease, its pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. Herein, we aimed to explore the novel prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic targets in patients with AML. Methods: Gene expression, overall survival (OS) and diagnosis were analyzed by bioinformatics software with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and our cohort population (52 healthy subjects and 98 AML patients). Results: Three prognostic factors T-cell leukemia translocation-altered gene (TCTA), sideroflexin 3 (SFXN3) and phospholipase A2 group IVA (PLA2G4A) were closely linked to poor prognosis in patients with AML based on the TCGA database and our cohort population. Multivariate COX regression analysis indicated that age (>60 years), up-regulation of SFXN3 and PLA2G4A were the independent prognostic factors associated with poor OS. Intriguingly, TCTA, SFXN3 and PLA2G4A presented the remarkable diagnostic value to distinguish AML from healthy subjects. Knockdown of SFXN3 led to inhibition of AML cell growth in vitro and in vivo and prolonged the survival time of nude mouse. Conclusion: A three-gene panel may play pivotal pathogenic roles in AML, represents potential prognostic and diagnostic indicators and therapeutic targets in the patients with AML. In addition, SFXN3 may be a potential therapeutic target of AML.