PMID: 16619525Apr 20, 2006Paper

FLT3 overexpression in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients without detectable FLT3-ITD or codon 835-836 mutations: a pilot study

Anticancer Research
K LilakosG A Pangalis

Abstract

Activating mutations of the FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase are common in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) but have uncertain prognostic significance. Information regarding FLT3 expression levels in APL without FLT3 mutations is lacking. Using RT-PCR, mutation analysis of the FLT3 gene, regarding internal tandem duplications (ITDs) and codon 835-836 point mutations, was performed and real-time PCR was carried out to determine the level of FLT3 expression in 11 APL patients at diagnosis and 5 in haematological remission with molecularly detectable disease. High levels of FLT3 transcript, at least a 10-fold increase compared to the normal controls, were found at diagnosis in all 3 mutated cases and in 2 patients without detectable FLT3 mutations. FLT3 overexpression can be documented in patients without FLT3 mutations. These patients might benefit from treatment using specific FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the clinical and biological significance of FLT3 overexpression in the absence of FLT3 mutations.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cell Signaling by Tyrosine Kinases

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are the high-affinity cell surface receptors for many polypeptide growth factors, cytokines, and hormones. RTKs have been shown not only to be key regulators of normal cellular processes but also to have a critical role in the development and progression of many types of cancer. Discover the latest research on cell signaling and RTK here.