Volume 36, Issue 6 pp. 656-664
Original Article

Lower frequency of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations in a South African adult de novo AML cohort

R. C. Marshall

Corresponding Author

R. C. Marshall

National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa

Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Correspondence:

Dr Robyn Marshall, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Rd, Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South Africa.

Tel.: +27 11 489 8805;

Fax: +27 11 484 5812;

E-mail: [email protected]

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A. Tlagadi

A. Tlagadi

National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa

Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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M. Bronze

M. Bronze

National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa

Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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V. Kana

V. Kana

National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa

Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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S. Naidoo

S. Naidoo

National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa

Department of Haematology, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa

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T. M. Wiggill

T. M. Wiggill

National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa

Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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S. C. Carmona

S. C. Carmona

National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa

Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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First published: 25 March 2014
Citations: 15

Summary

Introduction

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous clonal disorder of hemopoietic progenitor cells diagnosed in individuals of any age, but with a median age of 67 years at presentation in adults. Assessment of the mutation status of nucleophosmin protein-1 (NPM1) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) is essential for the prognosis, and treatment of AML.

Methods

A total of 160 de novo AML cases, both cytogenetically normal and abnormal, were analyzed for the presence of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations, and the results assessed in conjunction with epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings.

Results

Nucleophosmin protein-1 mutations were found in 7.5%, while FLT3-ITD was present in 12% of these cases. Both of these were lower than expected. The median age at diagnosis of AML was 41 years, and for the FLT3-ITD only cases, median age was 33 years; these ages were younger than expected.

Conclusion

The lower reported frequencies and younger median age at diagnosis of AML and these specific mutations may be contributed to by a number of factors including effects of race on age of presentation, inclusion of patients diagnosed with de novo AML only, and a generally younger median age of the South African population.

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