High FOXO3a expression is associated with a poorer prognosis in AML with normal cytogenetics

The PI3/AKT pathway is up-regulated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but its prognostic relevance in cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML) is unclear. We evaluated RNA levels of AKT and two downstream substrates (FOXO3a-p27) in 110 de novo CN-AML, included in the Spanish PETHEMA therapeutic protocols. Patients with high FOXO3a gene expression displayed shorter OS (p = 0.015) and RFS (p = 0.048) than low FOXO3a expressers. Features selected in the multivariate analysis as having an independent prognostic value for a shorter survival were WBC > 50 × 109/L, age >65 years and high FOXO3a expression. We concluded that FOXO3a assessment could contribute to improve the molecular-based risk stratification in CN-AML.