Leuk Lymphoma  1997 Jan;24(3-4):309-17 

N-ras gene point mutations in Brazilian acute myelogenous leukemia patients
correlate with a poor prognosis.

De Melo MB, Lorand-Metze I, Lima CS, Saad ST, Costa FF.

Department of Clinical Medicine-Hemocentro, School of Medical Sciences, State
University of Campinas (UNICAMP), SP-Brazil.

The frequency of ras gene mutations varies from 11 to 27% in AML populations
from the United States and Europe but it seems that there is no study regarding
the frequency of mutated N-ras gene in patients with AML in South America. In
order to study the frequency of N-ras gene mutations (exons 1 and 2) in
Brazilian patients with AML and to evaluate the possible correlation between the
presence of the mutation and clinical features, 40 patients were analyzed. N-ras
mutations were identified in DNA samples from eight of 40 AML patients (20%). No
significant correlation was found between N-ras mutation and age, sex, race,
response to therapy, FAB subtype or occupational exposure. However, the overall
survival and AML-free survival were significantly shorter in patients with N-ras
mutations than in those without these abnormalities.

PMID: 9156660 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]