Mutations of the AML1 gene are frequent molecular abnormalities in minimally differentiated acute myeloblastic leukemia (M0 AML), a rare type of AML. In this retrospective multicenter study, morphologic, immunophenotypical, cytogenetic, and molecular features of 59 de novo M0 AML cases were analyzed and correlated to AML1 mutations. Point mutations ofAML1 gene were observed in 16 cases (27%). They were correlated with higher white blood cell (WBC) count (P = .001), greater marrow blast involvement (P = .03), higher incidence of immunoglobulin H/T-cell receptor (IgH/TCR) gene rearrangement (P < .0001), and with a borderline significant lower incidence of complex karyotypes. In the 59 patients, FLT3 mutations were the only significant prognostic factors associated with short survival.

Subjects:
Brief Reports, Clinical Trials and Observations, Neoplasia
Topics:
immunoglobulin heavy chains, karyotype determination procedure, ms-like tyrosine kinase 3, mutation, leukemia, myelocytic, acute, prognostic factors, cytogenetics, flt3 gene, immunoglobulins, t-cell receptor

Minimally differentiated acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), now classified as M0 AML, is a rare type of AML associated with poor prognosis.1,2 Recently, we and others reported in M0 AML a high frequency of mutations of AML1gene, a gene that plays a pivotal role in myeloid differentiation.3-6 In this multicenter cooperative work, we analyzed clinical and biologic characteristics of a large series of M0 AML and compared, in particular, patients with and withoutAML1 mutation.

Patient population

Fifty-nine patients diagnosed as de novo M0 AML between 1993 and 2000 in the hematology departments of 9 French university hospitals (Besançon, Bordeaux, Dijon, Lille, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Reims, and Toulouse) were included. All cases were centrally reviewed by members of Groupe Français d'Hématologie Cellulaire (GFHC) for cytology, cytochemistry, and immunophenotyping and by members of Groupe Français de Cytogénétique Hématologique (GFCH) for cytogenetic findings.

Patients with older age and/or poor clinical condition received supportive care only or moderate chemotherapy (Table1). Other patients received anthracycline-AraC induction chemotherapy, based on European or French multicenter protocols for AML (acute Leukaemia French Association [ALFA], Bordeaux Grenoble Montpellier Toulouse [BGMT], European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC], and Groupe ouest des Leucemies et Autres Maladies du Sang [GOELAMS] cooperative groups).7-10 Patients who achieved complete remission (CR) received consolidation with high-dose AraC-based chemotherapy and autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation, depending on age, donor availability, and trial design.

Table 1.

Biological and clinical data

PatientSexAge, yKaryotypeFLT3 duplicationRearrangementAML1 gene mutationAML1 gene alterationIntensive TreatmentInduction regimenCR achievementCR duration, moSurvival, mo
IgHTCRFirst alleleSecond allele
1 M 45 Not done No DJ No Mutated C114ins F131del Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  6+  6+ 
2 M 38 46,XY [20] No DJ No Mutated R135G del Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 20+ 20+ 
3 F 64 46,XX [19] No No No Mutated D171G del Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 56+ 56+ 
4 M 86 Not done Yes No No Mutated R139 ter del No Supportive care No —  2 
5 F 45 46,XX,inv (3)(q21q26) [1]/45,XX,id. −7 [4]/ 46,XX [8] No No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  2 
6 F 43 45,XX,inv (3)(q21q26), −7 [16] No No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
7 F 46 46,XX [20] No No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 28+ 28+ 
8 M 23 46,XY [20] Yes No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 10 11 
9 F 49 Not done No FR3+ FR1+ No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline No — <1 
10 F 35 45-46,XX −X[3],del(5)(q15q33),−7,
add(7)(p22),+17,−20,
add(20)(p13)[2]+mar1,+r[cp44]/ 44-46, XX-X[3],idem,del(3)(q21)[3], ?der(3)t(3:?)[3], −del(5) (q15q33)[4],−6,−8[4],−14[6], +add(16)(q22)[6],−17[2], −17[4],add(17)(p13)[3), +m2[7], +m3[5][cp]7 		No No VG1JP1/2-VD1-VG11JP1/2 Mutated S140 ins Splice site ex4/int4 No Supportive care No — <1 
11 F 80 Not done Not done Not done Not done Germ line — — No Supportive care No — <1  
12 M 80 46,XY [20] Not done Not done Not done Germ line — — No Supportive care No —  1  
13 M 48 45,XX, −1, add(I)(q?10),−5,
−7,der(7)t(7;?)(p?;?), −12, −17, i(17)(q10), + 4 mar, +dmin [17]/ 46, XY [1] ishder(1) wcp1 +, wcp7+, mar1der(1)del(1)(q22) (wcp1+;wcp5+),mar2 der(5) (wcp5+), mar3 der(5) (?:5?;7p14− qter)(wcp5+;wcp7+) 		No No No Germ line   Yes AraCanthracycline-VP 16 No — <1 
14 M 78 47,XY,del(20)(q13.1),+ mar [5]/ 47,id, der(13;13)(q10;q10) [16] No No No Mutated R49S del(38 bp) No Supportive care No — <1 
15 M 28 46,XY, ins(10;11)(p14;q14q23).ish der(10)(CALM+,AF10+)[15] / 46,XY [7] Yes No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline-VP16 Yes 12+ 12+ 
16 M 78 Not done No DJ No Mutated N119del del Yes AraC-anthracycline No — <1 
17 M 78 Not done No No No Mutated R135M G138C No Supportive care No — <1 
18 M 61 47,XY,i(21)(q10),+mar[14]/47,
XY,idem,del(3)(p11), der(11)add(11)(p15)add
(11)(q25), −18, +min.ish der(11)(MLL+)[2] /46,XY [1] 		No No No Germ line   Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
19 M 64 47,XY,−21,+der(21)(q2?)×2 .ish der(21)(AML1 × 3)[16] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
20 M 29 79,XXYY,−2,−3,−5,−6,−7,
−9,−10,−11,15,−15,
−16,−17,−18,−21 [4]/ 46,XY [25] 		Yes No No Mutated R139 ter del Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  7.5 10 
21 M 76 45,XY,−21.ish (21)(wcp21 +)×1[12]/ 46,XY [21] No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  <1 
22 M 53 48,XY, del (3)(p2?), +del (3)(p2?),+19 [13]/ 46,XY[18] No No VG1J1J2 Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  7 10 
23 M 77 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1  
24 M 86 Not done No FR3+ FR1+ No Mutated R139 ter del No Supportive care No — <1 
25 M 81 Not done No No VG9J1J2 Mutated G138 ins del No Supportive care No —  1 
26 M 38 46,XY, ins(10;?)(q23;?)[3]/ 46, XY [32] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  2 
27 M 36 46,XY, t(6;12)(q25;q11), t(8;9)(q24;q33), t(11;16)(q13;q13) [29]/46, XY [2] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  7  8 
28 M 64 46, XY [29] Yes FR3+ FR1+ No Mutated R174Q Ins. splice site exon 4 Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
29 F 84 46, XX [30] No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — <1  
30 M 82 46, XY [31] No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1  
31 M 47 Not done Yes No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1  
32 F 73 44,XX, −4,−5,−7,−17,−19,
add(22),+3mar .ish der(5)(5pter−5q?::22::19)
(wcp5+,wcp19+,wcp22+),
der(7)t(4;7)(q21;q22)(wcp4+,
wcp7+),der[19]t(4;19)(q21;?)
(wcp4+,19+),add(22).ish dup(22)(q?)(wcp22+) [12] 		No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — <1  
33 F 88 46, XX [21] Yes DJ No Mutated V137ins del No Supportive care No —  1 
34 F 16 50,XX,+2,+6,+20,+22[3]/ 50,idem,−6, +add(6)(q26).ish add(6)(wcp6+,wcp 11−)[11] / 46,XX [6] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 47 48 
35 F 74 46,XX [22] No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1 
36 M 31 47,XY, dup(14)(q3?)+mar .ish mar (wcp10+) [11] / 46, XY [10] No No VG1JP1/2 Germ line —  — Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 26 26 
37 M 64 Not done No FR1+ FR3+ VG1JP1/2-VG1J1J2 9J1J2 Mutated R177ter del No Supportive care No —   1  
38 F 34 46,XX, t(1,9)(q31;p21).ish t(1;9;11)(q31;p21−22;q23−24)
(wcp1+,wcp9+,wcp11+)
(MLL+X3) [21]/ 46,XX [2] 		No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 94+ 94+ 
39 M 50 91,XXYY,−5,−11,+der(5;11)
(p10;p10)[29] /46, XY [1] 		No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 11 20 
40 F 62 46,XX [24] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —   5 
41 H 57 46,XY,t(3;12)(q26;p13).ish der(3)(ETV6+)der(12)(ETV6+) [15]/ 46,XY [7] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 13 15 
42 H 49 46,XY,i(7)(q10) [20] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  7  7 
43 F 17 89,XXXX, −5, −7, +13, −16,−21,−22, +mar inc[8]/ 46, XX [1] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  8  9 
44 F 52 46,XX [20] No No No Mutated Splice site int3/ex4 del Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  3 
45 F 76 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — <1  
46 F 87 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — <1 
47 M 63 47,XY, +8.nuc ish (D8z2×3)(86%)[16]/ 46, XY [4] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No — <1 
48 F 15 46,XX [18] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 1+  1+ 
49 M 67 Not done Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  2 
50 M 38 46,XY [20] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
51 F 59 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 49  51 
52 M 65 46,XY [30] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 12 13 
53 M 35 47,XY, +1, del (5)(q12q34), del (11)(q22.1q23.2) [7] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 103+ 103+ 
54 M 70 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1 
55 F 73 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 28 50 
56 M 47 46,XY [15] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 15+  15+ 
57 M 60 46,XY, t(4;13)(q21;q21) [19]/ 46, id. del (7)(q2?2q3?4) [1]/46, id. del (5)(q15q35) [1] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 48 50 
58 M 82 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — 1  
59 M 79 Not done No FR3+ No Mutated R135ins R174G No Supportive care No — <1 
PatientSexAge, yKaryotypeFLT3 duplicationRearrangementAML1 gene mutationAML1 gene alterationIntensive TreatmentInduction regimenCR achievementCR duration, moSurvival, mo
IgHTCRFirst alleleSecond allele
1 M 45 Not done No DJ No Mutated C114ins F131del Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  6+  6+ 
2 M 38 46,XY [20] No DJ No Mutated R135G del Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 20+ 20+ 
3 F 64 46,XX [19] No No No Mutated D171G del Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 56+ 56+ 
4 M 86 Not done Yes No No Mutated R139 ter del No Supportive care No —  2 
5 F 45 46,XX,inv (3)(q21q26) [1]/45,XX,id. −7 [4]/ 46,XX [8] No No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  2 
6 F 43 45,XX,inv (3)(q21q26), −7 [16] No No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
7 F 46 46,XX [20] No No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 28+ 28+ 
8 M 23 46,XY [20] Yes No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 10 11 
9 F 49 Not done No FR3+ FR1+ No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline No — <1 
10 F 35 45-46,XX −X[3],del(5)(q15q33),−7,
add(7)(p22),+17,−20,
add(20)(p13)[2]+mar1,+r[cp44]/ 44-46, XX-X[3],idem,del(3)(q21)[3], ?der(3)t(3:?)[3], −del(5) (q15q33)[4],−6,−8[4],−14[6], +add(16)(q22)[6],−17[2], −17[4],add(17)(p13)[3), +m2[7], +m3[5][cp]7 		No No VG1JP1/2-VD1-VG11JP1/2 Mutated S140 ins Splice site ex4/int4 No Supportive care No — <1 
11 F 80 Not done Not done Not done Not done Germ line — — No Supportive care No — <1  
12 M 80 46,XY [20] Not done Not done Not done Germ line — — No Supportive care No —  1  
13 M 48 45,XX, −1, add(I)(q?10),−5,
−7,der(7)t(7;?)(p?;?), −12, −17, i(17)(q10), + 4 mar, +dmin [17]/ 46, XY [1] ishder(1) wcp1 +, wcp7+, mar1der(1)del(1)(q22) (wcp1+;wcp5+),mar2 der(5) (wcp5+), mar3 der(5) (?:5?;7p14− qter)(wcp5+;wcp7+) 		No No No Germ line   Yes AraCanthracycline-VP 16 No — <1 
14 M 78 47,XY,del(20)(q13.1),+ mar [5]/ 47,id, der(13;13)(q10;q10) [16] No No No Mutated R49S del(38 bp) No Supportive care No — <1 
15 M 28 46,XY, ins(10;11)(p14;q14q23).ish der(10)(CALM+,AF10+)[15] / 46,XY [7] Yes No No Germ line — — Yes AraC-anthracycline-VP16 Yes 12+ 12+ 
16 M 78 Not done No DJ No Mutated N119del del Yes AraC-anthracycline No — <1 
17 M 78 Not done No No No Mutated R135M G138C No Supportive care No — <1 
18 M 61 47,XY,i(21)(q10),+mar[14]/47,
XY,idem,del(3)(p11), der(11)add(11)(p15)add
(11)(q25), −18, +min.ish der(11)(MLL+)[2] /46,XY [1] 		No No No Germ line   Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
19 M 64 47,XY,−21,+der(21)(q2?)×2 .ish der(21)(AML1 × 3)[16] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
20 M 29 79,XXYY,−2,−3,−5,−6,−7,
−9,−10,−11,15,−15,
−16,−17,−18,−21 [4]/ 46,XY [25] 		Yes No No Mutated R139 ter del Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  7.5 10 
21 M 76 45,XY,−21.ish (21)(wcp21 +)×1[12]/ 46,XY [21] No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  <1 
22 M 53 48,XY, del (3)(p2?), +del (3)(p2?),+19 [13]/ 46,XY[18] No No VG1J1J2 Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  7 10 
23 M 77 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1  
24 M 86 Not done No FR3+ FR1+ No Mutated R139 ter del No Supportive care No — <1 
25 M 81 Not done No No VG9J1J2 Mutated G138 ins del No Supportive care No —  1 
26 M 38 46,XY, ins(10;?)(q23;?)[3]/ 46, XY [32] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  2 
27 M 36 46,XY, t(6;12)(q25;q11), t(8;9)(q24;q33), t(11;16)(q13;q13) [29]/46, XY [2] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  7  8 
28 M 64 46, XY [29] Yes FR3+ FR1+ No Mutated R174Q Ins. splice site exon 4 Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
29 F 84 46, XX [30] No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — <1  
30 M 82 46, XY [31] No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1  
31 M 47 Not done Yes No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1  
32 F 73 44,XX, −4,−5,−7,−17,−19,
add(22),+3mar .ish der(5)(5pter−5q?::22::19)
(wcp5+,wcp19+,wcp22+),
der(7)t(4;7)(q21;q22)(wcp4+,
wcp7+),der[19]t(4;19)(q21;?)
(wcp4+,19+),add(22).ish dup(22)(q?)(wcp22+) [12] 		No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — <1  
33 F 88 46, XX [21] Yes DJ No Mutated V137ins del No Supportive care No —  1 
34 F 16 50,XX,+2,+6,+20,+22[3]/ 50,idem,−6, +add(6)(q26).ish add(6)(wcp6+,wcp 11−)[11] / 46,XX [6] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 47 48 
35 F 74 46,XX [22] No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1 
36 M 31 47,XY, dup(14)(q3?)+mar .ish mar (wcp10+) [11] / 46, XY [10] No No VG1JP1/2 Germ line —  — Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 26 26 
37 M 64 Not done No FR1+ FR3+ VG1JP1/2-VG1J1J2 9J1J2 Mutated R177ter del No Supportive care No —   1  
38 F 34 46,XX, t(1,9)(q31;p21).ish t(1;9;11)(q31;p21−22;q23−24)
(wcp1+,wcp9+,wcp11+)
(MLL+X3) [21]/ 46,XX [2] 		No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 94+ 94+ 
39 M 50 91,XXYY,−5,−11,+der(5;11)
(p10;p10)[29] /46, XY [1] 		No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 11 20 
40 F 62 46,XX [24] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —   5 
41 H 57 46,XY,t(3;12)(q26;p13).ish der(3)(ETV6+)der(12)(ETV6+) [15]/ 46,XY [7] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 13 15 
42 H 49 46,XY,i(7)(q10) [20] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  7  7 
43 F 17 89,XXXX, −5, −7, +13, −16,−21,−22, +mar inc[8]/ 46, XX [1] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes  8  9 
44 F 52 46,XX [20] No No No Mutated Splice site int3/ex4 del Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  3 
45 F 76 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — <1  
46 F 87 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — <1 
47 M 63 47,XY, +8.nuc ish (D8z2×3)(86%)[16]/ 46, XY [4] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No — <1 
48 F 15 46,XX [18] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 1+  1+ 
49 M 67 Not done Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  2 
50 M 38 46,XY [20] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline No —  1 
51 F 59 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 49  51 
52 M 65 46,XY [30] Yes No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 12 13 
53 M 35 47,XY, +1, del (5)(q12q34), del (11)(q22.1q23.2) [7] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 103+ 103+ 
54 M 70 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No —  1 
55 F 73 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 28 50 
56 M 47 46,XY [15] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 15+  15+ 
57 M 60 46,XY, t(4;13)(q21;q21) [19]/ 46, id. del (7)(q2?2q3?4) [1]/46, id. del (5)(q15q35) [1] No No No Germ line —  —  Yes AraC-anthracycline Yes 48 50 
58 M 82 Not done No No No Germ line —  —  No Supportive care No — 1  
59 M 79 Not done No FR3+ No Mutated R135ins R174G No Supportive care No — <1 
View Large

Morphologic studies

Bone marrow and peripheral blood smears were stained by May-Grünwald-Giemsa. Myeloperoxidase, naphthol AS-D-acetate esterases with and without fluoride inhibition, or naphthyl acetate butyrate esterases cytochemical reactions were performed.

Immunophenotypic studies

Immunophenotyping was performed by flow cytometry. Membrane expression of CD2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 19, 20, 22, 24, 79a, 34, 13, 33, 117, 14, 15, 41, 61, 65, and HLA-DR was tested. For CD3, CD13, CD22, and myeloperoxidase (MPO), intracytoplasmic antigen expression was also tested. Diagnostic criteria of M0 AML were (1) less than 3% myeloperoxidase-positive blasts; (2) expression of at least one of the following myeloid markers: CD13, CD33, or MPO; and (3) no expression of lymphoid markers except CD4 or CD7 (European Group for the Immunological Characterization of Leukemias [EGIL] criteria).11 

Cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies

For conventional cytogenetic analysis, chromosomes were identified by R-bands by heating using Giemsa (RHG) and/or G-bands with trypsin using Giemsa (GTG) banding, and abnormalities were described according to International System for Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN).12 FISH was performed according to standard methods and manufacturer's instructions by using whole chromosomes or locus-specific probe mixed lineage lymphoma (MLL), AML1 (Vysis, Downers Grove, IL), and yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) probes for ALL1 fused gene from chromosome 10 (AF10), clathrin assembly lymphoid-myeloid leukemia (CALM), and ETS variant gene 6 (ETV6) regions obtained from the CENTRE d'Étude du Polymorphisme humain (CEPH; Paris, France) (815c7, 814d9, 936e2 YAC clones).

Molecular studies

Detection of AML1 mutations was made on DNA and/or cDNA from bone marrow cells, as previously reported.3,6Study of FLT3 duplication, IgH (FR1, FR3, DJ), TCR-γ (Vg 1→Vg 11; J1J2; Jγ1/2; JP1/2; JP) and TCR-δ (Vd2Dδ3; Vd1Jδ1) gene rearrangements were performed according to Kiyoi et al,13 Landman-Parker et al,14 Davi et al,15 Delabesse et al,16 and Cave et al,17 respectively.

Clinical and biologic characteristics and outcome

Clinical and hematologic findings are summarized in Table2. They confirmed the association between M0 AML and older age, high WBC counts, CD7 expression, and high incidence of cytogenetic abnormalities.18-21 Median age of the 59 patients was 62 years. No patient was younger than 15 years, confirming the very low incidence of M0 AML in children. The morphology of blast cells was that of small to medium-sized blasts with high nucleocytoplasmic ratio and agranular basophilic cytoplasm and less often that of monocytoid-shaped blast, as previously reported.22 Morphologic and cytochemical data were not sufficient, and immunophenotypical studies were required in all cases for accurate diagnosis of M0 AML.

Table 2.

Pretreatment characteristics of M0 AML patients according to AML1 gene mutations

Overall populationPresence of AML1 gene mutationAbsence ofAML1 gene mutationP
N 59 16 43  
Mean age, y (range) 62 (15-88) 65 (29-88) 56 (15-87) .1146 
Females, % 34 25 37 .48  
Mean WBC count, g/L (range) 52.7 (1.1-309) 115 (1.4-309) 30 (1.1-208) .001 
Mean platelet count, giga/L (range) 91.3 (4-287) 83 (8-223) 94 (4-287) .71 
Mean Hb, g/dL (range) 8.8 (3.4-14.8) 8.46 (3.9-14.8) 9 (3.4-14.7) .27 
Mean circulating blasts, % (range) 67.3 (1-100) 77 (12-100) 63.5 (1-100) .08 
Mean marrow blasts, % (range) 84.4 (36-100) 91.4 (75-100) 82 (36-100) .032 
WBC more than 50 g/L, % pts 35 80 19 < .0001 
Dysgranulopoiesis, % pts 22 30 19 .437 
Dyserythropoiesis, % pts 16 9 19 .65 
Dysmegakaryopoiesis, % pts 5 0 8 1  
FLT3 duplication, % pts 22 28 23 1  
IgH orTCR gene rearrangement, % pts 22 58 7 < .0001 
Abnormal karyotypes, % 32.5 12.5 37.5 .166  
AML1 mutation, % 27 — — —  
CD13 expression, % 85 100 77 .0965  
CD33 expression, % 61 41 70 .036  
CD7 expression, % 35 15 40 .176  
CD34 expression, % 86 93 83 .666  
DR expression, % 83 100 77 .049  
CR achievement in patients treated intensively, % 62 68 62.5 .76  
Median CR duration, mo 12 10 17.5 .69 
Overall populationPresence of AML1 gene mutationAbsence ofAML1 gene mutationP
N 59 16 43  
Mean age, y (range) 62 (15-88) 65 (29-88) 56 (15-87) .1146 
Females, % 34 25 37 .48  
Mean WBC count, g/L (range) 52.7 (1.1-309) 115 (1.4-309) 30 (1.1-208) .001 
Mean platelet count, giga/L (range) 91.3 (4-287) 83 (8-223) 94 (4-287) .71 
Mean Hb, g/dL (range) 8.8 (3.4-14.8) 8.46 (3.9-14.8) 9 (3.4-14.7) .27 
Mean circulating blasts, % (range) 67.3 (1-100) 77 (12-100) 63.5 (1-100) .08 
Mean marrow blasts, % (range) 84.4 (36-100) 91.4 (75-100) 82 (36-100) .032 
WBC more than 50 g/L, % pts 35 80 19 < .0001 
Dysgranulopoiesis, % pts 22 30 19 .437 
Dyserythropoiesis, % pts 16 9 19 .65 
Dysmegakaryopoiesis, % pts 5 0 8 1  
FLT3 duplication, % pts 22 28 23 1  
IgH orTCR gene rearrangement, % pts 22 58 7 < .0001 
Abnormal karyotypes, % 32.5 12.5 37.5 .166  
AML1 mutation, % 27 — — —  
CD13 expression, % 85 100 77 .0965  
CD33 expression, % 61 41 70 .036  
CD7 expression, % 35 15 40 .176  
CD34 expression, % 86 93 83 .666  
DR expression, % 83 100 77 .049  
CR achievement in patients treated intensively, % 62 68 62.5 .76  
Median CR duration, mo 12 10 17.5 .69 

Hb indicates hemoglobin; WBC, white blood cell; pts, patients; —, not applicable.

View Large

Abnormal karyotype was found in 24 of 40 available cases and was complex (≥ 3 abnormalities) in 54% of them (Table 1). Aberrations involved preferentially chromosome 5, 7, 3, and 11. This high incidence of complex karyotypes with unbalanced changes such as −5/del(5q), −7, del(7q), and 3q abnormalities is usual in AML, occurring in elderly patients, and could partially explain the poor prognosis observed in our cohort. Abnormalities of chromosome 13 were found in only 2 cases, contrasting with a previous report that linked those abnormalities to M0 AML.20 22 

Molecular and immunophenotypic findings are summarized in Table 1 and Figure 1. FLT3 duplication was found in 13 patients (22%) as compared with 16% of M0 AML in the recent series of Thiede et al.23 IgH or TCR gene rearrangement was found in 9 (15%) and 5 (8%), respectively, of the patients and were not correlated to lymphoid marker expression. One patient had simultaneous IgH and TCRγ rearrangements.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. Antigenic expression profile. / The percentage of patients positive for the expression for each antigen for the whole series is compared with that of patients withAML1 gene mutation and without AML1 gene mutation. Gray bars indicate whole series of patients; black bars, patients with AML1 mutations; and white bars, patients without AML1 mutations.
View largeDownload PPT

Antigenic expression profile.

The percentage of patients positive for the expression for each antigen for the whole series is compared with that of patients withAML1 gene mutation and without AML1 gene mutation. Gray bars indicate whole series of patients; black bars, patients with AML1 mutations; and white bars, patients without AML1 mutations.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. Antigenic expression profile. / The percentage of patients positive for the expression for each antigen for the whole series is compared with that of patients withAML1 gene mutation and without AML1 gene mutation. Gray bars indicate whole series of patients; black bars, patients with AML1 mutations; and white bars, patients without AML1 mutations.
View largeDownload PPT

Antigenic expression profile.

The percentage of patients positive for the expression for each antigen for the whole series is compared with that of patients withAML1 gene mutation and without AML1 gene mutation. Gray bars indicate whole series of patients; black bars, patients with AML1 mutations; and white bars, patients without AML1 mutations.

Close modal

Three patients, aged 35, 47, and 64 years, died before onset of treatment. Nineteen patients received moderate single-agent chemotherapy or supportive care only, because of older age and/or poor clinical condition (18 of them were older than 70 years). Intensive chemotherapy was administered to the 37 remaining patients, of whom 23 (62%) achieved CR. Median CR duration was 12 months. Median survival of intensively treated patients was 10 months and 20 months in patients who achieved CR. Median survival of the whole cohort was 1 month (Figure 2A). Those results confirmed the poor prognosis of M0 AML, because of (besides frequent chromosomal rearrangements) the older age of many patients, who could not receive intensive chemotherapy.2,19 24 

Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. Survival of patients. / (A) Kaplan-Meier overall survival of the whole series of patients. (B) Kaplan-Meier survival of patients intensively treated. (C) Kaplan-Meier survival according to FLT3 duplication in patients intensively treated: patient without FLT3 duplication, patients with FLT3 duplication, (P = .05 between the 2 groups).
View largeDownload PPT

Survival of patients.

(A) Kaplan-Meier overall survival of the whole series of patients. (B) Kaplan-Meier survival of patients intensively treated. (C) Kaplan-Meier survival according to FLT3 duplication in patients intensively treated: patient without FLT3 duplication, patients with FLT3 duplication, (P = .05 between the 2 groups).

Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. Survival of patients. / (A) Kaplan-Meier overall survival of the whole series of patients. (B) Kaplan-Meier survival of patients intensively treated. (C) Kaplan-Meier survival according to FLT3 duplication in patients intensively treated: patient without FLT3 duplication, patients with FLT3 duplication, (P = .05 between the 2 groups).
View largeDownload PPT

Survival of patients.

(A) Kaplan-Meier overall survival of the whole series of patients. (B) Kaplan-Meier survival of patients intensively treated. (C) Kaplan-Meier survival according to FLT3 duplication in patients intensively treated: patient without FLT3 duplication, patients with FLT3 duplication, (P = .05 between the 2 groups).

Close modal

The poor prognosis of FLT3 duplication in other AMLs as a whole is now well documented.25 Here, in patients with M0 AML treated intensively, FLT3 duplication was the only prognostic factor with a median survival of 9 months in patients with FLT3 duplication versus 16 months in patients without FLT3 duplication (P = .05) (Figure 2C).

AML1 mutation in the M0 AML population

AML1 mutation was found in 16 patients (27%) (Table2), an incidence similar to that observed in previous reports.3-6 All mutations involved theRUNT domain, were missense (n = 7) or stop codon mutation (n = 15), and were biallelic (except one case), therefore probably inactivating the AML1 protein. Those characteristics are similar to our preliminary results and show the strong correlation between lack of AML1 function and M0 AML subtype.26 

In our M0 AML series, no differences were found between patients with or without AML1 mutations for age, sex, platelet count, hemoglobin value, myelodysplastic features, response to chemotherapy, and survival (Table 2). However, patients with AML1 mutation showed significantly higher leukocyte counts and higher marrow blast percentage, suggesting that AML1 mutations are associated with greater cell proliferation, lower incidence of CD33, and higher incidence of HLA-DR expression and higher frequency ofIgH or TCR gene rearrangement. There was also a trend for lower incidence of chromosomal abnormalities and complex chromosomal abnormalities in our M0 AML cases with AML1mutation. The higher incidence of IgH/TCR gene rearrangement in mutated cases could be related to AML1 loss of function. Indeed,AML1 has been reported to act as a transcriptional repressor by recruitment of transducinlike enhancer of split (TLE)/Groucho proteins.27 One of the target genes of this repression is TCR enhancer.28,29 AML1-mutated blast cells did not show expression of lymphoid markers, indicating absence of lymphoid differentiation, which could be linked to abnormal variable diversity joining (VDJ) recombination in myeloid-committed cells.30 However, we cannot exclude thatAML1 mutation occurred only in very immature cells not committed to lymphoid or myeloid differentiation, in whichTCR or immunoglobulin gene recombination would be a normal event.

Prepublished online as Blood First Edition Paper, October 10, 2002; DOI 10.1182/blood-2002-05-1474.

Supported by the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire of Lille (PHRC 1997), The Ligue Nationale contre le cancer (Comité du Nord et de l'Aisne), and the Fondation de France (Comité Leucémie).

P.F. and C.P. have equally contributed as last authors to this work.

The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. Therefore, and solely to indicate this fact, this article is hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. section 1734.

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Author notes

Claude Preudhomme, Unité INSERM 524 and Laboratoire d'Hématologie A, 1 place de Verdun, Hôpital Calmette, 59037 Lille, France; e-mail:cpreudhomme@chru-lille.fr.

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2003
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