This gene is a known cancer gene.

GATA2 is a member of the GATA transcription factors which play a role in hematopoiesis. GATA2 mutations in the zinc finger domains have been described in accelerated phase and blasts phase chronic myelogenous leukemia as well as 5-10% of acute myeloid leukemia and familial syndromes with a predisposition to acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Co-existing mutations in ASXL1 have been reported in a subset of patients with mutations in GATA2 and are believed to represent an important step in myeloid transformation, particularly to chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in young female patients. Other reports suggest that in cases of AML, GATA2 mutations have a higher prevalence among cases with biallelic CEBPA mutations and were not observed in cases with monoallelic CEBPA mutations. In general, the GATA2 pathogenic mutations are loss-of-function mutations (nonsense, frameshift, splice site mutations or missense mutations(codons 349-398)) and are believed to result in impairment of granulocyte differentiation. In MDS, GATA2 mutations may be associated with a poor prognosis. If clinical findings and family history are concerning for an inherited disorder, then genetic counseling may be helpful, if clinically indicated.