Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) A1062T mutation as a prognostic factor in Egyptian patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and clinical and prognostic impact of TERT A1062T mutation in AML patients treated at Mansoura Oncology Center. Screening for TERT A1062T mutation in exon 15 of the TERT gene was performed on diagnostic DNA samples from 153 AML patients and 197 healthy subjects as a control group by using sequence-specific primers. TERT A1062T mutation was detected in 18 cases out of 153 patients (11.8 %) and in one out of 197 control group subjects (0.51 %). The achievement of complete remission was significantly higher in AML group with wild type as compared to that in the mutant one (53.3 vs 16.7 %, respectively). In addition, the relapse rate was significantly higher in the mutant patients as compared to those with wild type (62.5 vs 28.2 %, respectively). The AML patients with TERT (A1062T) mutation had shorter overall survival than patients with wild type (P = 0.001). In a multivariable analysis, TERT (A1062T) mutational status is independently worse predictor factor (P = 0.007) when controlling for cytogenetic status (P = <0.001), performance status (P = <0.001) and bone marrow blast cells (P = 0.001). In conclusion, TERT A1062T mutation is an independent negative prognostic factor in AML patients. Therefore, molecular testing for TERT A1062T mutation in patients with AML is recommended in order to delineate their prognostic status.