OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to explore the correlation of long non-coding RNA taurine-upregulated gene 1 (lncRNA TUG1) expression with clinicopathological features and its predictive value for treatment response and survival profiles in refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) patients.

METHODS:

Seventy three R/R AML patients who received cladribine combined with cytarabine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (CLAG) or fludarabine combined with cytarabine and G-CSF (FLAG) based chemotherapy and 37 non-malignant controls were recruited. LncRNA TUG1 expression was detected in bone marrow sample obtained before treatment. Complete response (CR), partial response (PR), overall response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.

RESULTS:

LncRNA TUG1 expression was upregulated in R/R AML patients compared to controls. It was also elevated in R/R AML patients with age ⩾ 60 years (vs. age < 60 years, P = 0.030) and in patients with secondary AML (vs. primary AML, P = 0.035). R/R AML patients with lncRNA TUG1 high expression achieved numerically lower CR ( P = 0.053), decreased ORR ( P = 0.028) and shorter OS ( P < 0.001) than patients with lncRNA TUG1 low expression. Univariate logistic regression and COX’s regression disclosed that lncRNA TUG1 high expression correlated with declined ORR, numerically decreased CR, and reduced OS. Furthermore, multivariate analyses verified that lncRNA TUG1 high expression was an independent predictive factor for decreased ORR and worse OS.

CONCLUSIONS:

In conclusion, lncRNA TUG1 expression was elevated in R/R AML patients, and it might serve as a potential biomarker for poor prognosis in R/R AML patients treated with CLAG or FLAG based chemotherapy.