1.High Transcript Level of FLT3 Associated with High Risk of Relapse in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Hyoung Jin KANG ; Ji Won LEE ; Sang Hyeok KHO ; Min Jeong KIM ; Young Jin SEO ; Hyery KIM ; Hee Young SHIN ; Hyo Seop AHN
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2010;25(6):841-845
Identification of prognostic factors and risk-based post-remission therapy was proposed to improve the outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a mutation of FLT3 has been reported to be a risk factor, especially for pediatric patients. Recently, FLT3 expression level was implicated to have prognostic significance in adults, but little is known for childhood AML. To define the prognostic significance, transcript level of FLT3 was analyzed in 52 pediatric AML patients. The median copy number of FLT3 was 4.6x10(3) (40-5.9x10(7) copies)/1.0x10(6) GAPDH copy, and the relapse free survival of patients with high transcript level of FLT3 (>10(6) copy number) (0%) was significantly lower than that of the others (53.2%). High transcript level of FLT3 was associated with a markedly high risk of relapse. The development of new therapeutic scheme such as a frontline allogeneic stem cell transplantation or administration of FLT3 inhibitor is needed to improve outcomes.