Lack of noncanonical RAS mutations in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia

Ann Hematol. 2014 Jun;93(6):977-82. doi: 10.1007/s00277-014-2061-9. Epub 2014 Apr 16.

Abstract

Transforming mutations in RAS genes are commonly found in human malignancies, including myeloid leukemias. To investigate the incidence, spectrum, and distribution of activating K- and N-RAS mutations in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML) patients, 204 CN-AML patients were screened. Activating K- and N-RAS mutations were detected in 3 of 204 (1.5 %) and 22 of 204 (10.8 %) CN-AML samples, respectively. RAS mutated patients presented with a lower percentage of bone marrow blasts (65 vs 80 %, P = 0.022). RAS mutations tended to occur with nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1) mutations (P = 0.079), and all three samples containing K-RAS mutations had concomitant NPM1 mutations. There was no significant overlap between K-RAS mutations and N-RAS, FLT3, CEBPA, IDH1/2, WT1 or MLL mutations. RAS mutation status did not impact relapse-free or overall survival of CN-AML patients. In contrast to reports of noncanonical RAS mutations in other cancers, including some leukemia subtypes, we only observed K- and N-RAS mutations in codons 12, 13, or 61 in CN-AML samples. Our findings suggest that while K-RAS mutations are infrequent in CN-AML, activating K-RAS mutations may cooperate with mutated NPM1 to induce leukemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Genes, ras*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / mortality
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / mortality
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation*
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nucleophosmin
  • Prognosis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • NPM1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Nucleophosmin