Gene Linked With Lethal Subtype of AML

U.S. medical scientists have determined the activity of a particular gene can identify people who have a more lethal form of acute myeloid leukemia.

Ohio State University researchers said the gene, called ERG, has been linked with breast and prostate cancer.

The finding applies to acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, patients with leukemia cells that have normal-looking chromosomes — a feature that occurs in about half of AML patients, the researchers said.

Among such patients, those with leukemia cells showing high ERG activity are nearly six times more likely to relapse or die within five years than are patients with low ERG expression following standard therapy.

Our study shows high ERG activity predicts a poor prognosis in these patients, even when other molecular markers are taken into consideration, said Associate Professor Dr. Guido Marcucci. The findings mean these patients require a stem-cell transplant or other aggressive therapy, and patients with low ERG activity can be treated using standard therapy.

The research confirms a 2005 study led by the same Ohio State researchers in a completely independent set of patients, Marcucci said.

The study was reported online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.