In addition, we found a statistically significant correlation (p-value of 0.0048 (n = 8), Wilcoxon rank-sum test) for RUNX1 mutations (one of the top recurring gene mutations in AML) in the ‘high-repeat’ AML patients that was not as apparent for other gene mutations (e.g. DNMT3A, NMP1 or FLT3) or for TP53 (p-value of 0.04 (n = 6), Wilcoxon rank-sum test) (Additional file 10: Figure S10). Here, DNMT3A is linked to acute myeloid leukemia.