Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing the Detection of Low-Frequency Mutations in Cancer Tissues
Published on: August 23, 2024
Lack of FLT3-ITD in Tunisian childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Rim Frikha1,2, Nawel Abdellaoui1, Olfa Kassar3
1Department of Medical Genetics-HediChaker Hospital, Sfax-Tunisia.
Background:
The fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene belong to the class III receptor tyrosine kinases witch is predominantly expressed on hematopoietic progenitor cells, and plays an important role in haematopoiesis. Targeting the FMS-like tyrosine kinase receptor-3 (FLT3) in acute leukemia is mainly important. Therefore, activating mutations in FLT3, primarily the FLT3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD), was used as a prognostic marker especially in myeloid leukemia; however, in ALL, the prognostic relevance of FLT3 mutations is less clear.
Objectives:
This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of FLT3-ITD mutation in Tunisian childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and to correlate this mutation with prognostic parameters.
Methods:
Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA-anticoagulant blood samples from a total of 25 children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). After DNA extraction, the polymerase chain reaction using specific primers was conducted to screen the FLT3-ITD.
Results:
In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 9 cases with LAL-B were detected and the median age is 13 years. Chromosome abnormalities were detected in 5 with ALL and are correlated with worse prognosis (very high risk and relapse). At molecular lever, never FLT3-ITD was detected.
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that FLT3 mutations are not common in Tunisian childhood ALL and thus do not affect clinical outcome.
