The role of molecular tests in acute myelogenous leukemia treatment decisions

The prognosis for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is dependent on age, karyotype, and the genetics of the neoplastic cell. The molecular markers with prognostic impact include mutations in FLT3, NPM1, MLL, WT1, c-KIT, and expression levels of BAALC, NM1, ERG, and CXCR4. Gene expression profiles and microRNA expression patterns in AML may prove highly useful in defining the prognosis of AML. Cytogenetic and, increasingly, molecular findings are used in determining the best therapy for AML patients, especially the choice of whether to perform allogeneic stem cell transplantation.