BAALC is an important predictor of refractoriness to chemotherapy and poor survival in intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Authors :: Santamaría C
Chillón MC
García-Sanz R
Pérez C
Caballero MD
Mateos MV
Ramos F
de Coca AG
Alonso JM
Giraldo P
Bernal T
Queizán JA
Rodríguez JN
Puig N
Balanzategui A
Sarasquete ME
Alcoceba M
Díaz-Mediavilla J
San Miguel J
González M
Source :: Annals of hematology [Ann Hematol] 2010 May; Vol. 89 (5), pp. 453-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Nov 27.
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: We have analyzed brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) gene expression and other genetic markers (ERG, EVI1, MN1, PRAME, WT1, FLT3, and NPM1 mutations) in 127 intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients: 98 cytogenetically normal and 29 with intermediate-risk cytogenetic alterations. High versus low BAALC expressers showed a higher refractoriness to induction treatment (31% vs 10%; p = .005), lower complete remission rate after salvage therapy (82% vs 97%; p = .010), and lower 3-year overall (23% vs 58%, p < .001) and relapse-free survival (26% vs 52%, p = .006). Similar results were found when cytogenetic subgroups were analyzed separately. Multivariate models confirmed the unfavorable prognosis of this marker. In conclusion, BAALC is a relevant prognostic marker in intermediate-risk AML.

Full Text Access

Tools