title: N-ras gene point mutations in Brazilian acute myelogenous leukemia patients correlate with a poor prognosis.
abstract: The frequency of ras gene mutations varies from 11 to 27% in AML populations from the United States and Europe but it seems that there is no study regarding the frequency of mutated N-ras gene in patients with AML in South America. In order to study the frequency of N-ras gene mutations (exons 1 and 2) in Brazilian patients with AML and to evaluate the possible correlation between the presence of the mutation and clinical features, 40 patients were analyzed. N-ras mutations were identified in DNA samples from eight of 40 AML patients (20%). No significant correlation was found between N-ras mutation and age, sex, race, response to therapy, FAB subtype or occupational exposure. However, the overall survival and AML-free survival were significantly shorter in patients with N-ras mutations than in those without these abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine-Hemocentro, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP-Brazil.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: De Melo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lorand-Metze
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation; D011379:Prognosis; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm