Clinical implication and prognostic significance of FLT3-ITD and ASXL1 mutations in Egyptian AML patients: A single-center study

BACKGROUND: Both Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) and Additional Sex Comb-like 1 (ASXL1) mutations are frequent and early genetic alteration events in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. These genetic alterations may be associated with an unfavorable prognosis. OBJECTIVE: Up to our knowledge, this is the first study performed to evaluate the clinical implication and prognostic significance of FLT3-ITD and ASXL1 mutations and their coexistence on the outcome of Egyptian AML patients. METHODS: Our study included 83 patients with AML who were subjected to immunophenotyping and detection of FLT3-ITD and ASXL1 gene mutation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS: FLT3-ITD and ASXL1 mutations were detected in 20.5% and 18.1% of AML patients respectively. Seven patients (8.4%) had co-expression of both genes' mutations. FLT3-ITD mutation was significantly higher in younger age, higher WBCs count and poor cytogenetic risk patients (P = 0.01, < 0.001 and 0.008 respectively). ASXL1 mutation was significantly higher in intermediate cytogenetic risk patients ( P = 0.2). The mean period of survival and relapse-free survival (RFS) were significantly reduced in FLT3-ITD and ASXL1 mutations compared with their non-mutant types ( P = 0.01 and 0.03 respectively). Both mutations were independent risk factors for overall survival (OS) and (RFS) in univariate and multivariate analysis in AML patients. CONCLUSION: FLT3-ITD and ASXL1 gene mutations or their coexistence can predict a poor prognosis in AML patients.