Molecular Aberrations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Excess Blast II (MDS-EB II) in Kuwait

Introduction: AML is a heterogeneous disease. Different mutational profiles have been described and correlate with variable outcomes. Genetic abnormalities are not well-described in our region. Our aim is to describe the molecular aberrations observed in the first cohort of patients. We recently introduced DNA based Oncomine Myeloid Gene Panel testing 55 genes.

Method: we collected clinical, cytogenetic and molecular data prospectively since we introduced the test in late 2020. We also reviewed medical charts to collect baseline clinical data. We included patients aged 16 yrs and above with AML or MDS-EB II treated at Kuwait Cancer Center.

Results: fifty-seven patients were included in the study with median age of 51 yrs. Almost one third of the patients were Kuwaitis (36%). Baseline demographic described in (table 1). We have 53 patients with AML (92%), 3 patients with MDS-EB II (5%) and 1 pt with chronic myeloid leukemia in myeloid blast crisis (CML-MBC). Most of the patients had at least one mutation (91%) detected by the panel. The most common mutations (figure1) were FLT3 (ITD & D835) detected 26.3%, followed by NPM-1 detected in 21%. We have noticed an increased PTPN11 mutation, detected in 17.5% of the cases.

Conclusion: This is an important study showing extensive molecular abnormalities in AML patients in the region. This will facilitate more understanding of the disease biology and potentially guide therapeutic options

Pandita:Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Janssen Cilag: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria.