CDKN2A-deletion to predict relapse in adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

6614 Background: CDKN2A locus on chromosome 9p21 is implicated in altered molecular pathways leading to leukemogenesis as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting the proliferative kinases CDK4/CDK6 and blocking the cell-cycle division during G1/S phase. Deletion of CDKN2A locus is frequently seen in ALL, although prognostic significance remains unclear. Methods: Retrospective chart review at Mayo Clinic between 8/2005-11/2011 was performed on adult B-ALL patients (pts) who underwent fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) studies at diagnosis. Survival estimate was calculated using Kaplan-Meier statistics. Event-free survival (EFS) was defined as time between diagnosis and induction failure, relapse, or death, while overall survival (OS) as time between diagnosis and death Results: Out of 27 pts who had FISH studies for CDKN2A, 15 (56%) pts had CDKN2A deletions (8 homozygous/7 hemizygous), while 12 (44%) pts had diploid cytogenetics (none had abnormalities of MLL, bcr/abl fusion or CDKN2A deletion on FISH). The...