WT-1 as a prognostic marker for acute myeloid leukaemia

Referenznummer TO 15-00108

Challenge 

Prognosis and treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients vary among subtypes of the disease; the 5-year survival rates range  from 15% up to 70%. Therapies for AML include chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, but mortality due to side effects of treatment is rather high (up to 30%); for this reason risk assessment and treatment stratification play an important role. Prognostic information can be obtained from the analysis of  recurrent cytogenetic aberrations; however, patients with cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML) represent the largest subgroup (45% of all patients). As the prognosis for the majority of these patients is unfavourable, novel prognostic markers are needed. 

	Overall survival of AML patients of WT1 minor or major alleles.

Technology

A newly developed assay allows to identify an independent prognostic marker associated with favourable outcome: A fast and easy diagnostic test for a point mutation in the Wilms tumor gene 1 (WT-1) demonstrated a substantial advantage for relapse-free and overall survival for CN-AML patients carrying the minor allele of this mutation, thus allowing a re-assignment for 12% of patients from high-risk to low-risk.

Commercial Opportunity
In-licensing opportunity for the development of a diagnostic test based on patient blood samples.

Patent Situation
A European patent application has been filed in June 2009.

Further Reading
Damm, F., Heuser, M., Morgan, M., Yun, H., Großhennig, A., Göhring, G., Schlegelberger, B., Döhner, K., Ottmann, O., Lübbert, M., Heit, W., Kanz, L., Schlimok, G., Raghavachar, A., Fiedler, F., Kirchner, H., Döhner, H., Heil, G., Ganser, A. & Krauter, J. (2009): A single nucleotide polymorphism in the mutational hotspot of WT1 predicts a favorable outcome in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia patients. J Clin Oncol, In press.

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Kontakt:

Ralf Cordes, Ph.D.
Technology Manager
Ascenion GmbH

T: +49 (0)511 532 8921
F: +49 (0)511 532 8929
cordes@@ascenion.de