CEBPA mutations in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia: data analysis in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to explore the clinical characteristics and prognoses of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with CEBPA mutations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and forty-five patients with de novo AML were retrospectively analyzed with regard to CEBPA mutations, clinical characteristics, therapeutic responses, and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: CEBPA mutations were detected in 59 patients (17.10%), with 47 cases harboring double mutations and 12 cases harboring single mutations. In those with a normal karyotype (NK), 44 cases (25.29%) were detected with CEBPA mutations. The following characteristics were observed in CEBPA-mutated patients: most (66.10%) of them were M(1) or M(2); they presented with higher peripheral white blood cell counts (23.71 [12.6, 60.02] ×10(9)/L versus 7.34 [2.38, 26.63] ×10(9)/L; u=4.944, P<0.001) and higher hemoglobin levels (89.64±23.05 g/L versus 75.65±23.65 g/L; t=4.156, P<0.001) than those observed in patients without the mutation; and the expression of CD7 and HLA-DR was higher, whereas that of CD34 and CD56 was lower in patients with the mutation than in those without the mutation. Compared with those without the mutation, patients with CEBPA mutations had a superior complete remission rate (75.0% versus 56.54%; χ(2)=6.185, P=0.013) and superior overall survival (P=0.034). CONCLUSION: The frequency of CEBPA mutations may be higher in Chinese patients with AML than has been reported in populations of western countries, and the presence of CEBPA mutations is an indication of favorable prognoses for these patients.