GATA2 zinc finger 1 mutations are associated with distinct clinico-biological features and outcomes different from GATA2 zinc finger 2 mutations in adult acute myeloid leukemia.

Mutations of the GATA binding protein 2 (GATA2) gene in myeloid malignancies usually cluster in the zinc finger 1 (ZF1) and the ZF2 domains. Mutations in different locations of GATA2 may have distinct impact on clinico-biological features and outcomes in AML patients, but little is known in this aspect. In this study, we explored GATA2 mutations in 693 de novo non-M3 AML patients and identified 44 GATA2 mutations in 43 (6.2%) patients, including 31 in ZF1, 10 in ZF2, and three outside the two domains. Different from GATA2 ZF2 mutations, ZF1 mutations were closely associated with French-American-British (FAB) M1 subtype, CEBPA double mutations (CEBPA), but inversely correlated with FAB M4 subtype, NPM1 mutations, and FLT3-ITD. ZF1-mutated AML patients had a significantly longer overall survival (OS) than GATA2-wild patients and ZF2-mutated patients in total cohort as well as in those with intermediate-risk cytogenetics and normal karyotype. ZF1 mutations also predicted better disease-free survival and a trend of better OS in CEBPA patients. Sequential analysis showed GATA2 mutations could be acquired at relapse. In conclusion, GATA2 ZF1 mutations are associated with distinct clinico-biological features and predict better prognosis, different from ZF2 mutations, in AML patients.