ITGAM Upregulation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Leads to Poor Prognosis Associated With Infiltration of Inhibitory Innate Immune Cells.

Abstract

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a prevalent and potentially fatal hematologic malignancy with limited improvements in survival rates over the past few decades. ITGAM, encoding CD11b, is a significant integrin component in leukocytes, involved in various biological processes. However, its role in AML prognosis and immune cell infiltration remains poorly understood.

Methods: This study investigated the prognostic significance and potential function of ITGAM in AML using comprehensive bioinformatic analyses.

Results: ITGAM expression was markedly upregulated in AML patients, correlating with advanced age (> 60 years), French-American-British (FAB) classification subtypes M4 and M5, and intermediate or poor cytogenetic risk. Gene enrichment analysis revealed that ITGAM was involved in immune system regulation and was positively associated with the infiltration of neutrophils, immature dendritic cells, and macrophages in AML. Notably, the expression of ITGAM was linked to increased infiltration of immunosuppressive subsets of these innate immune cells, which may partially explain its association with a poorer prognosis.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that ITGAM could serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker in AML, reflecting an adverse prognosis associated with enhanced infiltration of immunosuppressive innate immune cells.