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URL http://www.rockymountainbmt.com/news/Poor-prognosis-in-pediatric-acute-myeloid-leukemia-linked-to-KIT-mutations-321.html

Poor prognosis in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia linked to KIT mutations

04-20-2006

Poor prognosis in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was linked to KIT mutations, and not FLT3 internal tandem duplication.

According to recent research published in the journal Blood, "Patients with t(8;21) AML are considered to have a good prognosis; however, approximately 50% of them relapse. The genetic alterations associated with a poor outcome in t(8;21) AML remain unknown."

"Recently, aberrations of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) were frequently found in patients with AML," explained A. Shimada and colleagues, Gunma Children's Medical Center. "However, the prevalence and prognostic impact of RTK aberrations in pediatric t(8;21) AML remains undetermined. Here, we found the kinase domain mutations of the KIT gene in 8 (17.4%) of 46 patients with t(8;21) AML among newly diagnosed pediatric patients with AML treated on the AML99 protocol in Japan.

"Significant differences between patients with or without KIT mutations were observed in the 4-year overall survival (50.0% versus 97.4%, p=.001), disease-free survival (37.5% versus 94.7%, p<.001) and relapse rate (47.0% versus 2.7%, p<.001). Furthermore, FLT3 internal tandem duplication was found in only 2 (4.3%) patients."

The researchers concluded, "These results suggested that KIT mutations are strongly associated with a poor prognosis in pediatric t(8;21) AML."

Shimada and colleagues published their study in Blood (KIT mutations, and not FLT3 internal tandem duplication, are strongly associated with a poor prognosis in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21): a study of the Japanese Childhood AML Cooperative Study Group. Blood, 2006;107(5):1806-1809).

For additional information, contact Y. Hayashi, Gunma Children's Medical Center, Dept. Hematology Oncology, 779 Shimohakoda, Kitatachibana, Gunma 3778577, Japan.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Blood is: American Society Hematology, 1900 M Street. NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

Keywords: Gunma, Japan, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Genetics, Oncology, Pediatric, Prognosis, Prognostics, Proteins, Proteomics, Tyrosine Kinase, KIT Mutations, Japanese Childhood AML Cooperative Study Group.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.