Genetics of Acute Myeloid Leukemia?
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The diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been transformed over the past 15 years from a disease defined, classed, and staged based on histologic characteristics alone to a disease classified largely based on genetic, genomic, and molecular characteristics. Cytogenetic analysis of AML has become essential for disease diagnosis, classification, prognostic stratification, and treatment guidance. Molecular genetic analysis of CEBPA, NPM1, and FLT3 is already standard of care in patients with AML, and mutations in several additional genes are assuming increasing importance
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@athu Testing for key genetic markers in patients with AML is important for both prognostic and treatment purposes. Generally, the relatively slow turnaround time for cytogenetic and molecular testing makes it difficult to tailor the initial induction based on these factors. However, the choice of consolidation and/or maintenance therapy can often benefit from risk stratification using genetic information. Treatment decisions have been made using this information in one of two ways: in deciding on the aggressiveness of treatment, and in determining whether targeted therapy may influence the genetic or genomic aberration and specifically treat the individual’s tumor.