Circulating cytokines and small molecules follow distinct expression patterns in acute myeloid leukaemia

BACKGROUND: Although aberrant expression of cytokines and small molecules (analytes) is well documented in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), their co-expression patterns are not yet identified. In addition, plasma baselines for some analytes that are biomarkers for other cancers have not been previously reported in AML. METHODS: We used multiplex array technology to simultaneously detect and quantify 32 plasma analyte (22 reported analytes and 10 novel analytes) levels in 38 patients. RESULTS: In our study, 16 analytes are found to be significantly deregulated (13 higher, 3 lower, Mann–Whitney U-test, P-value <0.005), where 5 of them have never been reported before in AML. We predicted a seven-analyte-containing multiplex panel for diagnosis of AML and, among them, MIF could be a possible therapeutic target. In addition, we observed that circulating analytes show five co-expression signatures. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating analyte expression in AML significantly differs from normal, and follow distinct expression patterns.