title: The incidence and prognostic significance of mutations in codon 13 of the N-ras gene in acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: To determine the incidence and prognostic significance of mutation in the N-ras gene in de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) we performed an analysis of bone marrow smears from 219 patients with de novo AML treated between 1984 and 1986 and followed for at least six years. DNA extracted from bone marrow smears taken at diagnosis was screened for the presence of mutations in codons 12 and 13 of exon 1 by using the polymerase chain reaction to insert an Hph1 restriction enzyme site into DNA. Presumptive mutations were confirmed by direct sequencing. Mutations were detected in a total of 26 patients (12%); in nine patients (4%) in codon 12 only, in ten patients (5%) in codon 13 only, and in seven patients (3%) in both codons. Mutations in codon 12 or codon 13 were not associated with any clinical features. Mutations in codon 12 had no prognostic significance but mutations in codon 13 were associated with an increased remission rate, a more durable remission, and a significantly prolonged survival which appeared to be independent of other prognostic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Coghlan
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bishop
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D003062:Codon