CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (CEBPa) is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of myelopoiesis. Somatic mutations of CEBPa are found in about 5-14% of cytogenetically normal AML. CEBPA mutations appear to be associated with a favorable prognosis in AML patients with a normal karyotype and an absence of FLT3 mutation. However, favorable outcome may only be related to the patients carrying double CEBPa mutations. The test sensitivity of this assay is approximately 20%.
Blood and bone marrow samples should be refrigerated or kept cold. Samples should never be frozen. Specimens being sent from outside facilities should be packaged according to standard medical safety practices with a cold pack. The specimen should be shipped by overnight priority [scheduled to arrive by Friday AM at the latest].