Frequency of FLT3 – internal tandem duplication (ITD) gene mutations in various cytogenetic groups in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): A report from Tamil Nadu, India

To standardize simple PCR based technique to identify FLT3 mutations in patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Thirty six patients with different chromosomal presentation were included in the study. DNA was isolated and a regular PCR targeting FLT3-ITD gene mutation was PCR amplified, and observed under agarose gel electrophoresis. Fishers-exact test was performed to evaluate the significance in the mutation presentation in different cytogenetic group and in the male, female ratio. FLT3-ITD mutation rate in the study population was 10.9%. All patients exhibited a heterozygous mutation; no homozygous mutation was noted in the study. In the cytogenetic group, 3/22 normal karyotype and 3/13 abnormal karyotype presented with the FLT3-ITD mutation. Fishers-exact test did not show any significant difference in various cytogenetic group and the male; female ratio. The heterozygous mutation FLT3 ITD rate in the paper is 10.9%; it is first of its kind of report from Tamil Nadu. No difference was noted in the presentation of the mutation in various cytogenetic groups and in the male, female ratio. PCR based screening technique was established. •First of its kind of report from Tamil Nadu, India.•Prevalence of heterozygous mutation of ITD is 10.9%•Mutation of ITD is independent of cytogenetic presentation and sex of the patients.•Screening of ITD can be done cost effectively in a simple PCR based screening.•ITD mutation screening in AML is important for treatment planning for patients