Science Spotlight  High CD33 levels on pediatric leukemic blasts
predicts poor outcome  April 16, 2012  CD33 expression on
pediatric AML blasts is highly variable and correlates with
disease-free survival. A) Distribution of CD33 expression for
the 619 patients; B) Correlation of disease-free survival with
CD33 expression (grey = lowest 3 quartiles, black = highest CD33
expression quartile). Adapted from images provided by the
authors. Most patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) express
the myeloid antigen CD33 on the surface of leukemic blasts. CD33
is a transmembrane receptor that has been targeted for cytotoxic
monoclonal-antibody-based therapy called gemtuzumab ozogamicin
(GO or Mylotarg). With the goal of classifying the variability
of CD33 expression with disease characteristics of childhood
AML, Drs. Jessica Pollard and Soheil Meshinchi and colleagues in
the CRD division have recently quantified CD33 levels on
leukemic blasts obtained from 619 de novo childhood AML
patients, and correlated these le