Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance of Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background: Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), a multifunctional plasma protein, has a regulatory role in homeostasis, angiogenesis, and immunity; which in turn could greatly affect tumor control and metastasis. Objectives: To assess the possible role of HRG in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) tumorgenesis and follow-up. Design and Methods: HRG was quantitatively measured in serum by ELISA and its expression was assessed by real-time PCR (qPCR) in 35 patients with ALL and compared to same 25 ALL patients after induction therapy and 30 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. Results: HRG-serum protein (at cutoff value 63.55 pg/ml) and HRG-RNA (at cut-off value 0.955) were positive in all ALL patients before therapy, but in only 76% after therapy for HRG-protein and 60% for HRG-RNA and they could not be detected in the control group; P < 0.001. Additionally, the serum HRG level showed a significant positive correlation with its expression level, bone marrow blast percentage, peripheral blood blast count, P < 0.01. Also its serum and expression levels were positively related to the poor risk Philadelphia chromosome; P < 0.01. Conclusions: HRG (protein and RNA) might be considered as a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker in ALL. HRG-serum protein level, detected by simple methodology of ELISA, has more significant advantages than its expression level, motivating its application in large clinical studies as a potential marker.