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Clinical implications of molecular genetic aberrations in acute myeloid leukemia

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Abstract

The role of different cytogenetic changes has been extensively evaluated in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and cytogenetic analysis of AML blasts is essential to form prognostic subgroups in order to stratify for the extent of therapy. Nevertheless, 40–45% of AML patients lack such cytogenetic markers, i.e., cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML). In the past decade, different molecular aberrations were identified in AML and especially CN-AML can now be discriminated into certain prognostic subgroups. This review considers the latest advances to define the prognostic impact of molecular aberrations in AML and gives insights how such molecular markers can be applied for analysis of minimal residual disease. Furthermore, therapeutic implications as well as the potential role of new methodological techniques in analyzing expression patterns of AML blasts are discussed.

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Abbreviations

CN-AML:

Cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia

CIR:

Cumulative incidence of relapse

CR:

Complete remission

DFS:

Disease free survival

EFS:

Event free survival

GEP:

Gene expression profiling

MRD:

Minimal residual disease

OS:

Overall survival

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  1. Department of Internal Medicine II (Oncology and Hematology), Universitätsklinikum, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740, Jena, Germany

    Sebastian Scholl, Hans-Joerg Fricke, Herbert G. Sayer & Klaus Höffken

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  2. Hans-Joerg Fricke
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  3. Herbert G. Sayer
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Scholl, S., Fricke, HJ., Sayer, H.G. et al. Clinical implications of molecular genetic aberrations in acute myeloid leukemia. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 135, 491–505 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-008-0524-x

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