Reduced serum retinol-binding protein levels in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukaemia

Abstract

Retinol-binding protein (RBP) has been used as a nutritional index for children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in previous studies. However, no studies have yet examined RBP levels in AML patients from all age groups. In this study, AML patients presented with lower RBP concentrations than healthy control subjects and patients with benign haematopathies. A negative association was observed between serum RBP level and peripheral white blood cell count in M4 and M5 AML patients. Moreover, patients carrying the FLT3-ITD mutation and young patients had lower RBP levels than those lacking this mutation and elderly patients. In conclusion, these observations suggest that aberrant retinol levels may be associated with AML.

Keywords:

• Acute myeloid leukaemia
• Retinol-binding protein
• White blood cell
• Prealbumin
• Molecular markers

Acknowledgements

We thank the Cancer Center at the First Hospital, Bethune Medical College of Jilin University, for their assistance in this work.