Abstract / Summary
Abstract The leukemic stem cell markers, CD44 and TIM-3,have been demonstrated to be prognostically significant with hematological malignancies. These findings were established with regard to histopathological or serum materials. The present study aimed to define the expression of CD44 and TIM-3 in bone marrow interstitial fluid with clinical relevance. The values of CD44 and TIM-3 were assayed from bone marrow interstitial fluid at diagnosis, including 68 cases with hematological malignancies and 28 non-neoplastic cases. Patients with hematological malignancies had higher levels of CD44 and TIM-3. The expressions of CD44 and TIM-3 increased significantly in hematological malignancies with bone marrow involvement compared with those without bone marrow involvement. Only CD44 expressions were correlated positively with blast percentages of bone marrow in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. In conclusion, CD44 and TIM-3 increased in bone marrow from patients with hematological malignancies. CD44 expressions had a positive correlation with marrow blasts in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.