Sequencing of DNA from 281 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients has identified a single gene that is associated with a worse prognosis. The gene, DNMT3A, encodes a DNA methyltransferase, an enzyme that modifies DNA. Patients with mutations in DNMT3A had a median survival of 12.3 months vs 41.1 months for those who did not have a mutated gene. The study may lead to more aggressive treatment plans for patients with changes in DNMT3A.
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