Given the identification of a major AML risk allele at the HLA locus on chromosome 6p21.32 and that cancer cells acquire somatic mutations that can function as neo-antigens for immune recognition we performed a case–control analysis stratified by mutation status for NPM1 and FLT3, two genes commonly mutated and clinically significant in cytogenetically normal AML2. The gene discussed is FLT3; the disease is acute myeloid leukemia.