FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication mutation in patients with acute myeloid leukemia in Kurdistan region/Iraq

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the FLT3 gene are very common in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These mutations are linked to a high chance of the disease relapse and decrease overall survival. This study aimed to investigate this mutation in AML cases and to correlate it with the clinicopathological presentation and their response to induction therapy. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate this mutation in AML cases and to correlate it with the clinicopathological presentation and their response to induction therapy. METHODS: This study was done on 63 AML cases; for each patient, the clinical presentation and the hematological lab parameters were recorded. The results of FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation were recorded and the mutation was detected by conventional polymerase chain reaction technology. Postinduction assessment was recorded for each patient. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied group was 36.06 (22.42), with a male to female ratio of 1:1.6. Out of 63 AML patients, 16 (25.4%) had FLT3-ITD mutation. The highest incidence of the mutation was found among the age group of 10–19 years (40%). The highest incidence of FLT3 mutation was among M3 (45.5%). The blast count was significantly higher in patients with than without the mutation (P = 0.04). The remission rate was significantly lower in FLT3 AML patients than in those lacking the mutation (P = 0.45). CONCLUSION: FLT3-ITD mutation was common in our AML patients. This mutation was associated with significantly higher counts of blast and poorer response to induction therapy; thus, it is considered one of the poor prognostic factors.