Exploring the Role of Macrophage Marker CD68 in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Van Camp, Laurens;Vanhooren, Jolien;Depreter, Barbara;Hofmans, Mattias;De Moerloose, Barbara;et.al.
(2026) International Journal of Molecular Sciences — Vol. 27, n° 11, p. 5136 (2026)

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Authors
  • Van Camp, Laurensorcid-logoDepartment of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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  • Vanhooren, Jolienorcid-logoDepartment of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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  • Depreter, Barbaraorcid-logoDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, AZ Delta General Hospital, 8800 Roeselare, Belgium
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  • Hofmans, Mattiasorcid-logoCancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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  • De Moerloose, Barbaraorcid-logoDepartment of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Abstract
Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (pedAML) is a childhood malignancy with relapse rates of approximately 30%. CD68, a macrophage marker involved in phagocytosis and macrophage recruitment, may contribute to AML biology. We analyzed CD68 expression using the TARGET database and performed survival analyses, mRNA/protein profiling, and functional assays in AML cell lines, pedAML samples, and cord blood samples. High CD68 transcript levels correlated with KMT2A-rearrangements and inversion 16. Survival analysis showed that high CD68 predicted worse event-free survival, though not independently in a multivariate analysis. Flow cytometry confirmed higher CD68 expression in 7/8 pedAML samples compared to cord blood samples. Functionally, CD68 knock-down reduced proliferation and increased drug sensitivity, while overexpression promoted growth and resistance. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated enrichment of MAPK signaling, AP-1-mediated stress response, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)/migration-associated pathways in CD68-high models. Together, these findings suggest that CD68 contributes to a pro-tumorigenic and stress-adaptive phenotype in pedAML and may represent a biologically relevant therapeutic target.
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Van Camp, L., Vanhooren, J., Depreter, B., Hofmans, M., D’hont, I., Chantrain, C., Dedeken, L., Van Damme, A., Uyttebroeck, A., Lammens, T., & De Moerloose, B. (2026). Exploring the Role of Macrophage Marker CD68 in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(11), 5136. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27115136 (Original work published 2026)