Elevated Level Expression of MiR-223 Is Associated with Worse Prognosis in Childhood T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

Background:No stratification criteria have been established so far for treatment of childhood lymphoblastic T-cell lymphoma (T-LBL). Probability of event-free survival is about 75%, however survival in relapsed patients is very poor. Activating NOTCH1mutations were reported to be associated with favorable prognosis and it has been demonstrated that in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia miR-223 up-regulates NOTCH1 through negative modulation of FBXW7. We recently identified a miRNA expression profile specific for pediatric T-LBL [Mussolin et al, Leukemia 2014], suggesting that few miRNAs, including miR-223, may play a major role in T-LBL pathogenesis. The prognostic relevance of miR-223 and its correlation with NOTCH1/FBXW7 mutational status and protein expression is still unknown in T-LBL.