One of the compounds identified, GNF-7, potently and selectively inhibited NRAS-dependent cells in preclinical models of acute myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Mutations involving codons 12 or 13 of the NRAS gene were detected in 6 of 33 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (6/33, 18%), whereas no mutations were found in non-Hodgkin lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
To examine whether determination of (1) the copynumber or restriction pattern of certain oncogenes or (2) the mutational activation of the N-ras gene might contribute to the risk classification of acute lymphoblastic leukemia of childhood (ALL), we investigated DNA isolated from lymphoblasts of untreated patients.