Leukemia  1994 Oct;8(10):1682-7 

The incidence and prognostic significance of mutations in codon 13 of the N-ras
gene in acute myeloid leukemia.

Coghlan DW, Morley AA, Matthews JP, Bishop JF.

Department of Haematology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South
Australia.

To determine the incidence and prognostic significance of mutation in the N-ras
gene in de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) we performed an analysis of bone
marrow smears from 219 patients with de novo AML treated between 1984 and 1986
and followed for at least six years. DNA extracted from bone marrow smears taken
at diagnosis was screened for the presence of mutations in codons 12 and 13 of
exon 1 by using the polymerase chain reaction to insert an Hph1 restriction
enzyme site into DNA. Presumptive mutations were confirmed by direct sequencing.
Mutations were detected in a total of 26 patients (12%); in nine patients (4%)
in codon 12 only, in ten patients (5%) in codon 13 only, and in seven patients
(3%) in both codons. Mutations in codon 12 or codon 13 were not associated with
any clinical features. Mutations in codon 12 had no prognostic significance but
mutations in codon 13 were associated with an increased remission rate, a more
durable remission, and a significantly prolonged survival which appeared to be
independent of other prognostic factors.

PMID: 7934163 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]