The Clinical Significance and Biological Function of DPEP1 in B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

Dehydropeptidase-1 (DPEP1) is a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase abnormally expressed in many cancers. However, its potential role in adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is unknown.\n\nWe found that in adults with common-B-cell ALL high DPEP1 transcript levels at diagnosis was independently-associated with an increased CIR and worse RFS compared with subjects with low transcript levels. We show an increased proliferation and pro-survival role of DPEP1 in B-cell ALL cells via regulation of phosphCREB and p53 which may be the biological basis of the clinical correlation we report. Our data implicate DPEP1 expression in the biology of common B-cell ALL in adults. We report clinical correlates and provide a potential biological basis for these correlations. If confirmed, analyzing DPEP1 transcript levels at diagnosis could help predict therapy-outcomes. Moreover, regulation of DPEP1 expression could be a therapy target in B-cell ALL.