Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for detection of c-MYC amplifications in AML Patients: A Potential Marker for Risk Stratification

Abstract

MYC is among the most prevalent oncogenic transcription factors implicated in the genesis of many cancers. MYC deregulation stimulates proliferation and inhibits terminal differentiation. Multiple mechanisms contribute to MYC deregulation including translocations, amplification, and hyperactive activated MYC transcription. Several experiments are ongoing investigating both direct and indirect c-MYC targeting therapies and further establishing c-MYC as an oncogene of central importance to AML pathogenesis and treatment. The aim of our study was to define the prognostic value of c-MYC amplification in adult AML patients and to correlate its expression with clinical, immunophenotyping, cytogenetic data and other prognostic factors to detect its effect on patients' outcome. Our study was conducted at the Clinical Pathology Department, Ain-Shams University Hospitals in the period from January 2019 till June 2020. It was carried on 50 adult AML patients (30 newly diagnosed and 20 on Therapy) and 10 healthy age-matched volunteers as control. In our patients’ cohort, we had 9 patients with c-MYC amplification (6 in the newly diagnosed group and 3 in the on