Treatment outcomes of IMEP as a front-line chemotherapy for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the treatment outcomes of ifosphamide, mesna, etoposide, and prednisolone (IMEP) combination regimen as a front-line chemotherapy in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs). METHODS: Clinical data of 38 newly diagnosed PTCLs patients who underwent IMEP at Busan Paik Hospital from January 2002 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 68.5%, with 21 (55.3%) complete response/complete response unconfirmed and 6 (15.8%) partial response (PR). The median follow-up duration was 25.5 months (range, 0.2-87.3). The median overall survival was not reached and 2-year survival rate was 67%. The median progression free survival was 23 months. The most frequently reported adverse effects higher than grade 3 were hematologic toxicities including neutropenia (68.4%), thrombocytopenia (42.1%). There was no treatment-related mortality. CONCLUSION: IMEP regimen is effective and safe as a front-line chemotherapy in patients with PTCLs.

Synchronous Hepatocellular Carcinoma and B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Chronic Hepatitis C Patient / 대한소화기학회지

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main viral causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with lymphoproliferative disorder such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, there are only few case reports on concomitantly induced NHL and HCC by HCV. Herein, we report a case of synchronous NHL and HCC in a patient with chronic hepatitis C which was unexpectedly diagnosed during liver transplantation surgery. This case suggests that although intrahepatic lymph node enlargements are often considered as reactive or metastatic lymphadenopathy in chronic hepatitis C patients with HCC, NHL should also be considered as a differential diagnosis.

Current status and future directions of clinical research and practice in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients in Korea

No abstract available.

Multiple Gastrointestinal Tract MALT Lymphomas with Bone Marrow Involvement: A Case Report and Literature Review / 대한내과학회지

The stomach is the most common site of gastrointestinal tract lymphoma, while synchronous mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas of the stomach and duodenum are very rare. A literature review found no reported case of synchronous gastroduodenal MALT lymphomas with involvement of the bone marrow and spleen. Here, we describe the case of a 62-year-old male who was diagnosed with synchronous MALT lymphomas of the stomach and duodenum based on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and pathology. Other staging evaluations, including colonoscopy, abdominopelvic and chest computed tomography (CT), 18F fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and a bone marrow examination, showed involvement of the bone marrow and spleen. We diagnosed stage EIV MALT lymphoma and began systemic chemotherapy. We report the first case of MALT lymphomas arising synchronously in both the stomach and duodenum with bone marrow involvement and review the literature.

Clinical features and survival outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: analysis of web-based data from the Korean Lymphoma Working Party Registry

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to survey the clinical spectrum of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in terms of epidemiology, pathologic subtypes, stage, and prognostic index as well as treatment outcomes. METHODS: In 2007-2008, 13 university hospitals evenly distributed in the Korean peninsula contributed to the online registry of DLBCL at www.lymphoma.or.kr and filed a total of 1,665 cases of DLBCL recorded since 1990. RESULTS: Our analysis showed a higher prevalence of DLBCL in male than in female individuals (M:F=958:707), and extranodal disease was more common than primary nodular disease (53% vs. 47%). Among the 1,544 patients who had been treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) or rituximab-CHOP (R-CHOP) therapy with or without radiation, 993 (63.9%) were alive, with 80% free of disease, 417 were dead (26.8%), with 13% free of disease, and 144 (9.3%) were lost to follow-up, with 23% free of disease. Age below 60 years, stage at diagnosis, international prognostic index (IPI) score regardless of age, and addition of rituximab to CHOP therapy in low- and low-intermediate-risk groups according to IPI scores significantly increased survival duration. CONCLUSION: The epidemiology, clinical spectrum, and biological behavior of DLBCL in Korea are similar to those observed in Western countries, and the advent of rituximab improved survival.

GnRH Agonist Co-treatment for Prevention of Primary Ovarian Insufficiency in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies Undergoing Chemotherapy / 대한폐경학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist co-treatment for gonadal protection in patients with hematologic neoplasms undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: Young premenopausal women who were diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma between March 2010 and February 2012 and undergoing chemotherapy in a university hospital were included in this study. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients aged 15.39 years participated in this study. Among the patients, five patients were receiving leuprolide concomitant with chemotherapy, and twenty-four patients were receiving chemotherapy alone. Seventeen patients in the chemotherapy alone group stopped menstrating and were diagnosed with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) within one year after chemotherapy; and only one patient had POI in the chemotherapy plus leuprolide group, but these differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.054). In the chemotherapy plus leuprolide group, serum anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels were significantly lower than basal serum AMH levels (5.57 +/- 0.18 ng/mL) (P < 0.001) after treatment (1.84 +/- 0.22 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: GnRH agonist may be a promising option for the prevention of POF, but the effectiveness of GnRH agonist is still debatable. A large prospective multi-center trial with adequate follow-up is needed.

Incidence and clinical characteristics of clonal cytogenetic abnormalities of acquired aplastic anemia in adults

BACKGROUND: Cytogenetic abnormalities (CAs) have been reported frequently in patients with otherwise typical aplastic anemia (AA), but their implications in the prognosis and in the evolution to hematologic malignancies are controversial. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 127 adult AA patients who had successful cytogenetic analysis at initial diagnosis. RESULTS: The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the initial and follow-up results of cytogenetic profiles. Group 1 included patients who had persistent AA with normal cytogenetic profiles (N=117); Group 2, those who had a normal cytogenetic profile at initial diagnosis but later acquired CA (N=4, 3.1%); and Group 3, those who had CA at the initial diagnosis, regardless of follow-up cytogenetic status (N=6,4.7%). In Group 2, 2 patients later developed CA without progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS); the other 2 patients later progressed to AML. None of the patients in Group 3 progressed to AML or MDS. There was no significant difference in overall survival between Groups 1 and 3. CONCLUSION: AA patients with CA at initial diagnosis or follow-up may not be at greater risk for evolution to AML or MDS, or show shorter survival periods. Prospective studies and a larger patient samples are needed to establish the clinical relevance of CA.

Acquired factor VIII deficiency after consuming the dried gallbladder of a cobra, Naja naja

Acquired factor VIII deficiency is very rare, often fatal. It is associated with pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, malignancy, and drugs, although no underlying cause is found in 50%. A 49-year-old male was referred with right shoulder bruising. The coagulation test showed a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. The factor VIII level was less than 1%, and the factor VIII inhibitor antibody titer was 246 Bethesda units/mL. The findings were compatible with acquired factor VIII deficiency. He had consumed the dried gallbladder of a cobra, Naja naja, for two weeks, it contained venom. After the initial treatment with factor VIII, he did not take supplemental coagulation factor VIII. The patient was readmitted with left forearm swelling. He lost consciousness suddenly and brain computed tomography (CT) revealed a subdural hematoma. Despite administering recombinant factor VII, his bleeding was not controlled and he died.

Factors to Predict Autologous CD34 Positive Cells Harvest in the Patients with Malignant Lymphoproliferative Disorder

BACKGROUND: Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) has been used as a major treatment strateg for malignant lymphoproliferative disorder. The number of CD34 positive cells in the harvested product is a very important factor for achieving successful transplantation. We studied the factors that can predict the number of CD34 positive cells in the harvested product of multiple myeloma (MM) and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients after mobilizing them with chemotherapy plus G-CSF. METHODS: A total of 69 patients (MM 25 patients, NHL 44 patients) with malignant lymphoproliferative disorder had been mobilizedwith chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating growth factor from January, 2003 to July, 2008. We analyzed the clinical characteristics, the peripheral blood (PB) parameters and the number of CD34 positve cells in the PB and their correlation with the yield of PBPCs collected from the mobilized patients. RESULTS: The total number of leukapheresis sessions was 134 (mean: 1.94 session per patient), and the mean number of harvested CD34 positive cell per patient was 12.47x10(6)/kg. The number of harvested CD34 positive cells was correlated with the patient's height, the number of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) and the number of PB CD34 positive cells at the harvest (P or =23.7/microliter) at the harvest might be the predictor of harvesting more than 3x10(6)/kg CD34 positive cell for autologous PBSCT in patients with malignant lymphoproliferative disorder.

Prognostic Significance of FLT3 Internal Tandem Duplication in Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Normal Karyotype

BACKGROUND: Activating mutations of the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) by internal tandem duplication (ITD) in the juxtamembrane region are found in 20~30% of the adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The allelic ratio of FLT3/ITD (ITD-AR), as assessed by Genescan analysis, has been reported to carry prognostic significance in AML patients who have normal karyotype. METHODS: FLT3/ITD was studied by PCR in 113 adults with AML including 55 patients with normal karyotype. Genescan analysis was performed for the PCR products to determine the allelic distribution. The results were correlated with the prognostic factors. RESULTS: FLT3/ITD was found in 23% of the total AML patients and in 32.7% of those patients with normal karyotype. The mutation was related to a high WBC count, a high serum LD level and a low percentage of CD34 positive cells. The ITD-AR ranged from 0.05 to 8.27 (median, 0.61). The patients with a high ITD-AR (> or =0.7) had significantly higher WBC count and LD level than those without FLT3/ITD. On multivariate analysis, a high ITD-AR as well as FLT3/ITD were confirmed to be independent adverse prognostic factors for AML patients with normal karyotype. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a high ITD-AR and FLT3/ITD had major adverse impacts on the prognostic relevance for AML patients with normal karyotype.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma-like Posttransplantation Lymphoproliferative Disorder after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients have a risk of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), which normally develops in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed donor B lymphocytes. The incidence of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) ranges from 1.8% to 3.4% of PTLD after HSCT. There are no case reports of early onset HL-like PTLD that developed less than one year after HSCT. We encountered a case of early onset PTLD after an unrelated HSCT following reduced-intensity conditioning with cyclophosphamide/fludarabine/thymoglobulin. A 24 year old patient with severe aplastic anemia developed multiple lymphadenopathies at day 95 after HSCT. The excisional biopsy revealed HL-like PTLD, which tested positive to immunohistochemical staining for the EBV. The Ann Arbor stage was IIA. Immunosuppressive agents were discontinued for 2 weeks in order to induce a graft-versus-lymphoma effect without a response. A total 4 cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin (adriamycin)/bleomycin/ vinblastine/dacarbazine (ABVD) and radiotherapy (total dosage 3,400 cGy) were then carried out. The response to salvage treatment was complete remission. The patient showed no evidence of the disease at the follow-up performed 32 months after HSCT.

Expression and Function of TLR2 on CD4 Versus CD8 T Cells

BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a fundamental role in innate immunity through their capacity to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Also, TLRs that are expressed in T cells are reported to function as co-stimulatory receptors. However, the functional capacity of TLRs on CD4 T and CD8 T cells has not been directly compared. Here we compared CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to TLR2 ligand plus TCR-mediated stimulation. METHODS: TLR2 expression was analyzed on T cell subsets under naive and alloantigen-primed conditions. We analyzed the effects of TLR2 co-stimulation on proliferation and survival of T cell subsets in vitro when stimulated with soluble anti-CD3 in the presence or absence of synthetic ligand Pam3CSK4. RESULTS: TLR2 expression on CD8 T cells was induced following activation; this expression was much higher than on CD4 T cells. Thus, the molecule was constitutively expressed on Listeria-specific memory CD8 T cells. Based on these expression levels, proliferation and survival were markedly elevated in CD8 T cells in response to the TLR2 co-stimulation by Pam3CSK4 compared with those in CD4 T cells. CONCLUSION: Our data show that TLR2 co-stimulation is more responsible for proliferation and survival of CD8 T cells than for that of CD4 T cells.

Gemcitabine, Etoposide, Cisplatin, and Dexamethasone in Patients With Refractory or Relapsed Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To date, an effective salvage chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of refractory or relapsing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has not been discovered. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine, etoposide, cisplatin, and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory NHL patients. METHODS: All patients had histologically proven relapsed or refractory NHL. Treatments consisted of gemcitabine 700 mg/m2 by continuous i.v. on days 1 and 8; etoposide 40 mg/m2 by i.v. on days 1-4; cisplatin 60 mg/m2 by i.v. on day 1; or dexamethasone 40 mg by i.v. on days 1-4 (GEPD) every 21 days. The primary end point was the patient response rate following two cycles of treatment. After two cycles, stem cells were harvested using mobilizing regimens (ESHAP or GEPD plus filgrastim), and this was followed by autologous stem cell transplantation or four additional cycles of GEPD. RESULTS: Between January 2005 and January 2006, 20 patients (13 males and 7 females) were enrolled in the study. The median age was 53 (range 16-75) years. The most common histology was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n=10). The median follow-up duration was 5.2 (range 1.0-16.0) months. After two cycles, the overall response rate was 50.0% (10/20), including two complete responses and eight partial responses. The doselimiting toxicity was myelosuppression. Grade IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 13 (65.0%) and 6 patients (30.0%), respectively. The median number of CD34-positive cells collected was 6.0 (range, 2.8-11.6)x10(6)/kg. Of the 17 patients < 66 years of age, 4 (23.5%) proceeded to autologous stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: GEPD chemotherapy in patients with refractory or relapsed NHL was effective as a salvage therapy and helpful for stem cell harvest followed by autologous transplantation.

Primary Isolated Bone Marrow Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma with Hemolytic Anemia as the First Manifestation

Primary isolated bone marrow disease as a presenting feature of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is very rare. We describe the first Korean case of isolated bone marrow diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with hemolytic anemia as the first manifestation. A32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital presenting with fever and hematuria. He had severe anemia and high lactate dehydrogenase activity. His peripheral blood smear and laboratory findings were suggestive of intravascular hemolytic anemia. The bone marrow biopsy revealed involvement with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. A computed tomographic scan showed splenomegaly, but no lymphadenopathy. Our case shared some clinical features with the Asian variant of intravascular B-cell lymphoma, but there was infrequent involvement of the sinusoids of lymphoma cells and no hemophagocytosis. Our patient was treated with R-CHOP regimen for six cycles and he is in remission after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

The Efficacy and Adverse Effect of Hydroxyurea as Compared with Anagrelide in Essential Thrombocythemia

BACKGROUND: Although the platelet count may not always correlate with the risk of thrombosis, there is evidence that a strict control of the platelet count decreases the incidence of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications. However, it is difficult to select an appropriate platelet-lowering agent. This retrospective study was performed to assess the efficacy and adverse effect of the use of hydroxyurea and anagrelide for patients with essential thrombocythemia. METHODS: Sixty patients with essential thrombocythemia received either hydroxyurea (n=30) or anagrelide (n=30). Early responses and adverse effects of hydroxyurea and anagrelide in the patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Treatment with anagrelide or hydroxyurea resulted in a rapid decrease of the platelet count within two weeks. The response rates after treatment with hydroxyurea and anagrelide were 83% and 77%, respectively. As compared with patients treated with hydroxyurea, patients treated with anagrelide presented with adverse effects such as headache palpitation was also frequently noticed (P=0.001). However, serious hemorrhage (n=2) and transformation to leukemia (n=1) occurred in patients treated with hydroxyurea. CONCLUSION: Both anagrelide and hydroxyurea were effective and well-tolerated agents for the reduction of the platelet count. Long-term efficacy and adverse effects of the drugs remain to be determined.

Treatment Outcomes with CHOP Chemotherapy in Adult Patients with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

The objective of the current study was to investigate the treatment outcomes for the use of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) chemotherapy in adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Seventeen HLH patients older than 18 yr of age were treated with CHOP chemotherapy. A response evaluation was conducted for every two cycles of chemotherapy. With CHOP chemotherapy, complete response was achieved for 7/17 patients (41.2%), a partial response for 3/17 patients (17.6%), and the overall response rate was 58.8%. The median response duration (RD) was not reached and the 2-yr RD rate was 68.6%, with a median follow-up of 100 weeks. Median overall survival (OS) was 18 weeks (95% CI, 6-30 weeks) and the 2-yr OS rate was 43.9%. Reported grade 3 or 4 non-hematological toxicities were increased serum liver enzyme levels and stomatitis. Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities were leukopenia (50.8%), anemia (20%), and thrombocytopenia (33.9%). Neutropenic fever was observed in 21.6% of patients (14/65 cycles), and most of the cases were resolved with supportive care including treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. CHOP chemotherapy seems to be effective in adult HLH patients and the toxicities are manageable.

Clinical significance of PML/RAR alpha isoforms in acute promyelocytic leukemia / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are three types of PML-RAR alpha mRNA fusion transcripts associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL): the short (S)-form, the long (L)-form and the variable (V)-form. No study on the Korean population has addressed the clinical significance of the specific types of PML-RAR alpha mRNA fusion transcripts for APL patients who receive the combination therapy of all-trans-retinoic-acid and idarubicin (AIDA regimen). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis on 94 patients with APL to evaluate differences in the therapeutic outcomes, such as the response rate, an event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS), after remission following the induction of chemotherapy. We also analyzed whether differences in the pretreatment clinical characteristics depend on the PML-RAR alpha isoform. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 41 years (range 15-85). Among the 94 patients, there were 58 L-form cases (62.1%), 32 S-form cases (34.0%), and 4 V-form cases (4.3%). The CR rate following remission induction treatment was 84.9%. The CR rate was higher in patients with an initial WBC <10.0x109/L, as compared to patients with an initial WBC higher than 10.0X109/L (93.5% vs. 65.4%, p=0.001). The AIDA induction regimen was associated with a better EFS than non-AIDA induction regimens (81.9% vs. 49.6%, p=0.006). The induction group was also a significant prognostic factor for EFS in the multivariate analysis (p=0.020). There were no differences in OS and EFS in patients with either isoform L or isoform S in the AIDA induction group. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study demonstrated that pretreatment clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were not significantly different among patients with varying PML-RAR alpha isoform types in the AIDA induction group.

The effect of CHEP combination chemotherapy in previously untreated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The CHOP regimen has been the standard therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) for the past 30 years, but its effect on complete response and long-term survival rates were unsatisfactory. Therefore, more effective chemotherapeutic regimens are required. We attempted to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a newly developed cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, etoposide, prednisolone (CHEP) combination chemotherapy which substitutes etoposide for vincristine in a preexisting cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, prednisolone, vincristine (CHOP) regimen. METHODS: Between March 1997 and April 2003, 36 patients with a histologically confirmed NHL were enrolled in the study. All patients received CHEP chemotherapy as a first-line treatment. Tratment courses were repeated every 34 weeks for at least 4 cycles, pending response to the treatment. RESULTS: The overall response rate achieved was 86.1% for all of the patients. The complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were 72.2% and 13.9%, respectively. The CR rate was significantly higher in patients with stage III disease, and a PS score of 02 (p<0.0001, p=0.017, respectively). The three year overall (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) rates were 61.2%, 58.2%, respectively. Stage, extranodal involvement, and the attainment of CR influenced OS significantly (p=0.027, p=0.047, p=0.0001, respectively) as determined by univariate analysis. Stage, serum LDH level, extranodal involvement, the international prognostic index (IPI), and the attainment of CR influenced FFS significantly (p=0.0013, p=0.048, p=0.020, p=0.018, p=0.0001, respectively) as determined by univariate analysis. The dose-limiting toxicity was due to myelosuppression. Nno neurologic side effects were seen, which frequently occur after using vincristine. CONCLUSIONS: The CHEP regimen in patients with aggressive NHL is effective as a first-line therapy, and possesses an acceptable toxicity profile. We suggest a trial that adds rituximab to the CHEP regimen as afirst-line therapy for aggressive NHL in the future.

Induction Chemotherapy of Docetaxel and Cisplatin for the Elderly Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Although concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has been considered as a standard treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), this treament is associated with increased toxicities such as mucositis and dermatitis. As a result, the dose intensity can be reduced and interruptions of radiotherapy are more common for CCRT than for sequential treatment, especially for the elderly patients. This prospective study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety profiles of the induction chemotherapy of docetaxel and cisplatin for elderly patients with locally advanced SCCHN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients over 65 years of age with locally advanced SCCHN were treated with docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (75 mg/m(2)) every 21 days. The chemotherapy consisted of two cycles with a third cycle that was administered to the responding patients. Patients who did not respond to initial chemotherapy underwent radiotherapy as a definitive local treatment. RESULTS: Fifty patients were enrolled in this study and 44 patients were assessable for response and toxicity. The overall response rate was 88%, 16 patients (36%) achieved a complete response and 23 patients (52%) achieved a partial response. After a median follow-up of 24 months (range: 9~38 months) the median disease free period and overall survival period had not yet been reached. The one year and two year survival rates were 89% and 70%, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 adverse event was neutropenia, which occurred in 33 patients (75%) and 4 patients had febrile neutropenia. CONCLUSION: Combination chemotherapy of docetaxel and cisplatin is an effective regimen with an acceptable safety profile as the induction treatment for elderly patients suffering with SCCHN.

Prevalence of FLT3 Internal Tandem Duplication in Adult Acute Myelogenous Leukemia / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: fms-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3), a member of the class III receptor tyrosine kinases, regulates the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. An internal tandem duplication of the FLT3 gene (FLT3/ITD) has been reported in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and may be associated with a poor prognosis. In this study we determined the prevalence and prognostic significance of FLT3/ITD in adult AML patients. METHODS: This study included 52 adult de novo AML. Exon 14 and 15 of the FLT3 gene were amplified by PCR and the PCR products were analyzed by 3730XL DNA analyzer (Applied Biosystems, USA) and GeneMapper Software. RESULTS: FLT3/ITD was found in 15 (28.8%) of the 52 AML patients. The presence of FLT3/ITD was significantly associated with absolute leukocyte counts (P=0.002) and bone marrow blast counts (P=0.036). FLT3/ITD was also more frequent in patients with normal karyotype (7 of 18) than in those with cytogenetic aberrations (3 of 25). Patients with t (15;17) showed a higher prevalence of FLT3/ITD (2 of 7). FLT3/ITD was significantly associated with overall survival (P<0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that FLT3/ITD is a common alteration in adult AML patients. Although based on a study with a limited number of AML patients, FLT3/ITD is a prognostic marker in patients with AML.