Integrated transcriptomic and genomic analysis improves prediction of complete remission and survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Relevant molecular tools for treatment stratification of patients >= 65 years with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are lacking. We combined clinical data with targeted DNA- and full RNA-sequencing of 182 intensively and palliatively treated patients to predict complete remission (CR) and survival in AML patients >= 65 years. Intensively treated patients withNPM1andIDH2(R172)mutations had longer overall survival (OS), whereas mutatedTP53conferred lower CR rates and shorter OS.FLT3-ITDandTP53mutations predicted worse OS in palliatively treated patients. Gene expression levels most predictive of CR were combined with somatic mutations for an integrated risk stratification that we externally validated using the beatAML cohort. We defined a high-risk group with a CR rate of 20% in patients with mutatedTP53, compared to 97% CR in low-risk patients defined by high expression ofZBTB7AandEEPD1withoutTP53mutations. Patients without these criteria had a CR rate of 54% (intermediate risk). The difference in CR rates translated into significant OS differences that outperformed ELN stratification for OS prediction. The results suggest that an integrated molecular risk stratification can improve prediction of CR and OS and could be used to guide treatment in elderly AML patients