Low frequency of mutations in Chinese with acute myeloid leukemia: Different disease or different aetiology?

Mutations in FLT3, DNMT3A, NRAS, NF1 and TP53 occur in persons of predominately European descent with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Some, such as internal tandem duplication of FLT3 (FLT3-ITD) and point mutations in DNMT3A and NRAS, are especially frequent whereas others such as NF1 and TP53 are less so. Frequencies of these mutations in persons with seemingly similar AML from other genetic groups are largely unknown. We studied 269 Chinese (mostly Han) with de novo AML. FLT3-ITD was detected in 51 subjects (23%; 95% CI, 17-28%), R882 mutation of DNMT3A in 17 (6%; 95% CI, 3-9%) and NRAS mutation in 17 (7%; 95% CI, 3-9%). No mutations in NF1 and only 1 mutation in TP53 (1%, 95% CI, <2.5%) were detected. Except for FLT3-ITD, frequencies of these mutations are significantly less than those in persons of predominately European descent with AML. The reason(s) for this disparity is unknown but may offer clues to the aetiology of AML in different populations or may indicate some mutations associated with AML in persons of predominately European descent are not fundamental to the aetiology of the disease.