Molecular Landscape of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Pediatric Patient-Age-Related Correlations: A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This review explores how the genetic changes in pediatric AML differ by age, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment for children.

Contribution

The paper systematically reviews age-related molecular differences in pediatric AML to guide age-specific therapies.

Findings

AML in children shows distinct genetic alterations compared to adults.

Genetic mutations and rearrangements vary significantly within different pediatric age groups.

Understanding these age-related molecular patterns can help tailor individualized therapies.

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accounts for 15–20% of childhood leukemia cases; however, it is characterized by very high aggressiveness and has the highest mortality rate among leukemias, with relapse rates ranging from 34% to 38%. It is a disease characterized by high molecular diversity, and the frequency of specific genetic alterations in children is different from that in adults. Furthermore, mutations and rearrangements vary with age within the pediatric population. To date, a wide spectrum of genetic alterations has already been studied, but the molecular landscape of each patient is unique. An analysis of rearrangements and mutations specific to children of different ages appears to be crucial in order to individualize diagnosis and therapy appropriately. The aim of the following review is to analyze the molecular landscape of pediatric AML by age in detail in order to prioritize therapeutic strategies dedicated to specific age groups.

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