Publication

Abstract : Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive form of blood cancer and clinically highly heterogeneous characterized by the accumulation of clonally proliferative immature precursors of myeloid lineage leading to bone marrow failure. Although, the current diagnostic methods for AML consist of cytogenetic and molecular assessment, there is a need for new markers that can serve as useful candidates in diagnosis, prognosis and understanding the pathophysiology of the disease. This study involves the investigation of alterations in the bone marrow interstitial fluid and serum proteome of AML patients compared to controls using label-free quantitative proteomic approach. A total of 201 differentially abundant proteins were identified in AML BMIF, while in the case of serum 123 differentially abundant proteins were identified. The bioinformatics analysis performed using IPA revealed several altered pathways including FAK signalling, IL-12 signalling and production of macrophages etc. Verification experiments were performed in a fresh independent cohort of samples using MRM assays led to the identification of a panel of three proteins viz., PPBP, APOH, ENOA which were further validated in a new cohort of serum samples by ELISA. The three-protein panel could be helpful in the diagnosis, prognosis and understanding of the pathophysiology of AML in the future.