Incidence of internal tandem duplications and D835 mutations of FLT3 gene in chronic myeloid leukemia patients from Southern India.

OBJECTIVE

To screen two important FLT3 mutations (internal tandem duplication (ITD) and D835 point mutations) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients from Southern India and report their incidence.

METHODS

Screened 350 CML patients and 350 controls for the two FLT3/mutations through polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods.

RESULTS

ITDs were detected in 12 of the 350 CML patients (3.4%) and D835 mutations in only four cases (1.14%), relatively low in frequency as compared to those reported earlier from non-Indian populations. None of the cases showed simultaneous occurence of both ITD and D835 mutations.

DISCUSSION: These FLT3 mutations seem to be very rare in CML, and it is possible that these could be found only in a subset of patients who are in the progressive stage and/or with varied drug response. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the role of FLT3 mutations in CML pathogenesis, which may help devising therapeutic interventions.