Genetic Studies in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a group of malignant diseases originating from clonal hematopoietic stem cells, with a prevalence of 2-3 per hundred thousand people all over the world every year, and whose incidence has not changed significantly for the last 20 years. This malignant change in hematopoietic cells causes loss of function in these cells and, if untreated, results in death within weeks or months depending on the clinical course. AML is a complex disease that shows heterogeneity as well as phenotypic and recurrent chromosomal aberrations are observed in most of the cases. AML-related translocations generally affect the CBF (corebinding factor), RARα (retinoic acid receptor alpha) and ETS (E-twentysix) family transcription factors and the HOX (Homeobox) gene family. There are various treatment examples and prognostic approaches as a result of genetic studies in AML. Recently, some molecules and molecular changes thought to be of prognostic and therapeutic importance have been identified and their importance in terms of treatment and prognosis has been investigated. In this study, genetic studies in AML were examined and new approaches and treatment processes in recent years were examined.