Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a disease characterized by bone marrow failure due to increased proliferation resulting from the protection of myeloid precursor cells from differentiation and apoptosis control in the bone marrow. Nucleophosmin (NPM1) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) are mutations frequently seen in AML, which has heterogeneous genetics. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and lifespan of the patients with NPM1 and FLT3 in AML. METHODS: The study retrospectively investigated the clinical, immunophenotypical, and genetic parameters of the patients diagnosed with AML between 1 January 2012 and 31 June 2019 in the haematology clinic of Dicle University following WHO 2016 criteria. The study primarily focused on the patients' response to the disease, genetic characteristics, and the relationship of NPM1 and FLT3 mutations with their lifespan. RESULTS: The study was performed 107 cytogenetically normal patients were investigated using RT-PCR (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) in NMP1 and FLT3 mutations in 269 AML patients. While the median survival time in the NPM1-positive patient group was 12.3 months (95% confidence interval (C.I.): 0.1-32 months), it was 10.6 months (9%5 C.I: 4,9-16,3 months) in the NPM1-negative group. On the other hand, the median survival time in the FLT3-positive patient group was 8,4 months (95% C.I: 1,2-15,6 months), and it was 12,3 months ( 95% C.I: 3,8-20,8 months) in the FLT3-negative group. While the number of NPM1-positive patients was 31 (29%), one of the FLT3-positive patients was 19 (17.8%) DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The study found that while the NPM1 positivity rate in AML cytogenetically normal patients was 29%, the FLT3 positivity rate was 17.8%, representing the first-ever data in this respect in our country. The results indicate that overall survival was better in cases with NPM1 and worse in those with FLT3.

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