IncRNA MVIH correlates with disease features, predicts treatment response and survival in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia

OBJECTIVE: Long non‐coding RNA microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma (lnc‐MVIH) is correlated with unfavorable prognosis in several malignancies, while limitedly studied in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study aimed to investigate the correlation of lnc‐MVIH with disease features, response to induction therapy, and survival in pediatric AML patients. METHODS: A total of 129 de novo pediatric AML patients who were retrospectively analyzed and 60 children with non‐malignant hematological diseases who underwent bone marrow examination were reviewed as controls. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) were isolated from all participants to detect lnc‐MVIH expression by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The complete remission status after 1 course of induction therapy, event‐free survival, and overall survival of pediatric AML patients were recorded. RESULTS: Lnc‐MVIH was upregulated in pediatric AML patients compared with controls (p < 0.001). In pediatric AML patients, lnc‐MVIH was correlated with increased bone marrow blasts, less inv(16) or t(16;16) abnormity, and higher Chinese Medical Association (CMA) risk stratification (all p < 0.05), whereas its correlation with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk stratification was not statistically significant (p = 0.098). As for prognosis, lnc‐MVIH high expression patients presented with lower complete response rate to 1 course of induction therapy (61.5% vs. 79.7%, p = 0.024), shorter event‐free survival (median 12.0 months vs. 22.0 months, p = 0.006), and overall survival (median 28.0 months vs. 42.0 months, p = 0.043) compared with lnc‐MVIH low expression patients. CONCLUSION: Lnc‐MVIH correlates with poor treatment response and unfavorable survival in pediatric AML.