Objective: To investigate fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutation in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and its clinical significance.
Methods: FLT3 mutation-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) and FLT3 mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain (FLT3-TKD) were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the genomic DNA of 61 ALL patients and 7 healthy volunteers (as reference group). The PCR products of these patients who were detected with FLT3-ITD or FLT3-TKD were sent for sequence analysis.
Results: In all these 61 ALL patients, FLT3-ITDs were identified in 2 patients and FLT3-TKD were identified in one patient.
Conclusion: FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD exist in a small proportion of ALL patients.