Prognostic Significance Of Fms like Tyrosine Kinase Receptor Internal Tandem Duplication (FLT3-ITD) in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

The modern characterization of AML is a multi-disciplinary process. It requires the integration of clinical informations, morphology, cytochemistry, immuno-phenotyping, cytogenetic diagnostic techniques. It is only by bringing all these modalities together that a clear picture can be presented. The annual incidence of childhood AML is quite constant from birth throughout the first 10 years with a slight peak in late adolescence. AML appears to account for the majority of the very rare cases of congenital leukemia. Correlation of cytogenetics, molecular genetics analysis and clinicopathologic data has led to the recognition of distinct subtypes of AML and has helped to identify prognostic groups. FLT3 is a member of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor subfamily which maps to chromosome 13q12 and predominantly expressed in haematopoietic cells restricted to the CD34 positive fraction. FLT3 mutations are one of the most frequent somatic alterations in AML and consist of two major types: internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations and point mutations.