Frequency and prognostic impact of PAX5 p.P80R in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated on an AIEOP-BFM acute lymphoblastic leukemia protocol

Cytogenomic characterization of pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals TCR rearrangements as predictive factors for exceptional prognosis

BACKGROUND

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) represents a rare and clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease that constitutes 10-15% of newly diagnosed pediatric ALL cases. Despite improved outcomes of these children, the survival rate after relapse is extremely poor. Moreover, the survivors must also endure the acute and long-term effects of intensive therapy. Although recent studies have identified a number of recurrent genomic aberrations in pediatric T-ALL, none of the changes is known to have prognostic significance. The aim of our study was to analyze the cytogenomic changes and their various combinations in bone marrow cells of children with T-ALL and to correlate our findings with the clinical features of the subjects and their treatment responses.

RESULTS

We performed a retrospective and prospective comprehensive cytogenomic analysis of consecutive cohort of 66 children (46 boys and 20 girls) with T-ALL treated according to BFM-based protocols and centrally investigated cytogenetics and immunophenotypes. Using combinations of cytogenomic methods (conventional cytogenetics, FISH, mFISH/mBAND, arrayCGH/SNP and MLPA), we identified chromosomal aberrations in vast majority of patients (91%). The most frequent findings involved the deletion of CDKN2A/CDKN2B genes (71%), T-cell receptor (TCR) loci translocations (27%), and TLX3 gene rearrangements (23%). All chromosomal changes occurred in various combinations and were rarely found as a single abnormality. Children with aberrations of TCR loci had a significantly better event free (p = 0.0034) and overall survival (p = 0.0074), all these patients are living in the first complete remission. None of the abnormalities was an independent predictor of an increased risk of relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a subgroup of patients with TCR aberrations (both TRA/TRD and TRB), who had an excellent prognosis in our cohort with 5-year EFS and OS of 100%, regardless of the presence of other abnormality or the translocation partner. Our data suggest that escalation of treatment intensity, which may be considered in subsets of T-ALL is not needed for nonHR (non-high risk) patients with TCR aberrations.

IKZF1plus is a frequent biomarker of adverse prognosis in Mexican pediatric patients with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Background

Recurrent genetic alterations contributing to leukemogenesis have been identified in pediatric B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL), and some are useful for refining classification, prognosis, and treatment selection. IKZF1plus is a complex biomarker associated with a poor prognosis. It is characterized by IKZF1 deletion coexisting with PAX5, CDKN2A/2B, or PAR1 region deletions. The mutational spectrum and clinical impact of these alterations have scarcely been explored in Mexican pediatric patients with B-ALL. Here, we report the frequency of the IKZF1plus profile and the mutational spectrum of IKZF1, PAX5, CDKN2A/2B, and ERG genes and evaluate their impact on overall survival (OS) in a group of patients with B-ALL.

Methods

A total of 206 pediatric patients with de novo B-ALL were included. DNA was obtained from bone marrow samples at diagnosis before treatment initiation. A custom-designed next-generation sequencing panel was used for mutational analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for OS estimation.

Results

We identified the IKZF1plus profile in 21.8% of patients, which was higher than that previously reported in other studies. A significantly older age (p=0.04), a trend toward high-risk stratification (p=0.06), and a decrease in 5-year Overall Survival (OS) (p=0.009) were observed, although heterogeneous treatment protocols in our cohort would have impacted OS. A mutation frequency higher than that reported was found for IKZF1 (35.9%) and CDKN2A/2B (35.9%) but lower for PAX5 (26.6%). IKZF1MUT group was older at diagnosis (p=0.0002), and most of them were classified as high-risk (73.8%, p=0.02), while patients with CDKN2A/2BMUT had a higher leukocyte count (p=0.01) and a tendency toward a higher percentage of blasts (98.6%, >50% blasts, p=0.05) than the non-mutated patients. A decrease in OS was found in IKZF1MUT and CDKN2A/2BMUT patients, but the significance was lost after IKZF1plus was removed.

Discussion

Our findings demonstrated that Mexican patients with B-ALL have a higher prevalence of genetic markers associated with poor outcomes. Incorporating genomic methodologies into the diagnostic process, a significant unmet need in low- and mid-income countries, will allow a comprehensive identification of relevant alterations, improving disease classification, treatment selection, and the general outcome.

Genetic alterations in lymphoblastic leukaemia

We present a practical guide for analyzing the genetic aspects of lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma according to the 5th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of haematolymphoid neoplasms (WHO-HAEM5) issued in 2024. The WHO-HAEM5 acknowledges the increasing importance of genetics in the diagnosis of lymphoid neoplasia. Classification is based on the established genetic subtypes according to cell lineage, with precursor cell neoplasms followed by mature malignancies. This guide describes those genetic abnormalities in acute precursor B- and T-cell neoplasms required for risk stratification, and for treatment, providing diagnostic algorithms under the headings of 'essential' and 'desirable' diagnostic criteria.

Novel Biomarkers and Molecular Targets in ALL

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a widely heterogeneous disease in terms of genomic alterations, treatment options, and prognosis. While ALL is considered largely curable in children, adults tend to have higher risk disease subtypes and do not respond as favorably to conventional chemotherapy. Identifying genomic drivers of leukemogenesis and applying targeted therapies in an effort to improve disease outcomes is an exciting focus of current ALL research. Here, we review recent updates in ALL targeted therapy and present promising opportunities for future research.

RECENT FINDINGS

With the utilization of next-generation sequencing techniques, the genomic landscape of ALL has greatly expanded to encompass novel subtypes characterized by recurrent chromosomal rearrangements, gene fusions, sequence mutations, and distinct gene expression profiles. The evolution of small molecule inhibitors and immunotherapies, and the exploration of unique therapy combinations are some examples of recent advancements in the field. Targeted therapies are becoming increasingly important in the treatment landscape of ALL to improve outcomes and minimize toxicity. Significant recent advancements have been made in the detection of susceptible genomic drivers and the use of novel therapies to target them.

Cytogenetics in the management of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Guidelines from the Groupe Francophone de Cytogénétique Hématologique (GFCH)

Cytogenetic analysis is mandatory at initial assessment of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) due to its diagnostic and prognostic value. Results from chromosome banding analysis and complementary FISH are taken into account in therapeutic protocols and further completed by other techniques (RT-PCR, SNP-array, MLPA, NGS, OGM). Indeed, new genomic entities have been identified by NGS, mostly RNA sequencing, such as Ph-like ALL that can benefit from targeted therapy. Here, we have attempted to establish cytogenetic guidelines by reviewing the most recent published data including the novel 5th World Health Organization and International Consensus Classifications. We also focused on newly described cytogenomic entities and indicate alternative diagnostic tools such as NGS technology, as its importance is vastly increasing in the diagnostic setting.

Emerging molecular subtypes and therapies in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Tremendous strides have been made in the molecular and cytogenetic classification of acute lymphoblastic leukemia based on gene expression profiling data, leading to an expansion of entities in the recent International Consensus Classification (ICC) of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias and 2022 WHO Classification of Tumours: Haematolymphoid Tumors, 5th edition. This increased diagnostic and therapeutic complexity can be overwhelming, and this review compares nomenclature differences between the ICC and WHO 5th edition publications, compiles key features of each entity, and provides a diagnostic algorithmic approach. In covering B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), we divided the entities into established (those present in the revised 4th edition WHO) and novel (those added to either the ICC or WHO 5th edition) groups. The established B-ALL entities include B-ALL with BCR::ABL1 fusion, BCR::ABL1-like features, KMT2A rearrangement, ETV6::RUNX1 rearrangement, high hyperdiploidy, hypodiploidy (focusing on near haploid and low hypodiploid), IGH::IL3 rearrangement, TCF3::PBX1 rearrangement, and iAMP21. The novel B-ALL entities include B-ALL with MYC rearrangement; DUX4 rearrangement; MEF2D rearrangement; ZNF384 or ZNF362 rearrangement, NUTM1 rearrangement; HLF rearrangement; UBTF::ATXN7L3/PAN3,CDX2; mutated IKZF1 N159Y; mutated PAX5 P80R; ETV6::RUNX1-like features; PAX5 alteration; mutated ZEB2 (p.H1038R)/IGH::CEBPE; ZNF384 rearranged-like; KMT2A-rearranged-like; and CRLF2 rearrangement (non-Ph-like). Classification of T-ALL is complex with some variability in how the subtypes are defined in recent literature. It was classified as early T-precursor lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma and T-ALL, NOS in the WHO revised 4th edition and WHO 5th edition. The ICC added an entity into early T-cell precursor ALL, BCL11B-activated, and also added provisional entities subclassified based on transcription factor families that are aberrantly activated.

PAX5 alterations in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

PAX5, a master regulator of B cell development and maintenance, is one of the most common targets of genetic alterations in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). PAX5 alterations consist of copy number variations (whole gene, partial, or intragenic), translocations, and point mutations, with distinct distribution across B-ALL subtypes. The multifaceted functional impacts such as haploinsufficiency and gain-of-function of PAX5 depending on specific variants have been described, thereby the connection between the blockage of B cell development and the malignant transformation of normal B cells has been established. In this review, we provide the recent advances in understanding the function of PAX5 in orchestrating the development of both normal and malignant B cells over the past decade, with a focus on the PAX5 alterations shown as the initiating or driver events in B-ALL. Recent large-scale genomic analyses of B-ALL have identified multiple novel subtypes driven by PAX5 genetic lesions, such as the one defined by a distinct gene expression profile and PAX5 P80R mutation, which is an exemplar leukemia entity driven by a missense mutation. Although altered PAX5 is shared as a driver in B-ALL, disparate disease phenotypes and clinical outcomes among the patients indicate further heterogeneity of the underlying mechanisms and disturbed gene regulation networks along the disease development. In-depth mechanistic studies in human B-ALL and animal models have demonstrated high penetrance of PAX5 variants alone or concomitant with other genetic lesions in driving B-cell malignancy, indicating the altered PAX5 and deregulated genes may serve as potential therapeutic targets in certain B-ALL cases.

International Consensus Classification of Myeloid Neoplasms and Acute Leukemias: integrating morphologic, clinical, and genomic data

The classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias was last updated in 2016 within a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Society for Hematopathology, and the European Association for Haematopathology. This collaboration was primarily based on input from a clinical advisory committees (CACs) composed of pathologists, hematologists, oncologists, geneticists, and bioinformaticians from around the world. The recent advances in our understanding of the biology of hematologic malignancies, the experience with the use of the 2016 WHO classification in clinical practice, and the results of clinical trials have indicated the need for further revising and updating the classification. As a continuation of this CAC-based process, the authors, a group with expertise in the clinical, pathologic, and genetic aspects of these disorders, developed the International Consensus Classification (ICC) of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias. Using a multiparameter approach, the main objective of the consensus process was the definition of real disease entities, including the introduction of new entities and refined criteria for existing diagnostic categories, based on accumulated data. The ICC is aimed at facilitating diagnosis and prognostication of these neoplasms, improving treatment of affected patients, and allowing the design of innovative clinical trials.

PAX5 fusion genes are frequent in poor risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and can be targeted with BIBF1120

Background

Methods

Findings

Interpretation

Funding

Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Regeneration Profile in Treated B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients: Association with MRD Status and Patient Outcome

For the last two decades, measurable residual disease (MRD) has become one of the most powerful independent prognostic factors in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). However, the effect of therapy on the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and its potential relationship with the MRD status and disease free survival (DFS) still remain to be investigated. Here we analyzed the distribution of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and endothelial cells (EC) in the BM of treated BCP-ALL patients, and its relationship with the BM MRD status and patient outcome. For this purpose, the BM MRD status and EC/MSC regeneration profile were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in 16 control BM (10 children; 6 adults) and 1204 BM samples from 347 children and 100 adult BCP-ALL patients studied at diagnosis (129 children; 100 adults) and follow-up (824 childhood samples; 151 adult samples). Patients were grouped into a discovery cohort (116 pediatric BCP-ALL patients; 338 samples) and two validation cohorts (74 pediatric BCP-ALL, 211 samples; and 74 adult BCP-ALL patients; 134 samples). Stromal cells (i.e., EC and MSC) were detected at relatively low frequencies in all control BM (16/16; 100%) and in most BCP-ALL follow-up samples (874/975; 90%), while they were undetected in BCP-ALL BM at diagnosis. In control BM samples, the overall percentage of EC plus MSC was higher in children than adults (p = 0.011), but with a similar EC/MSC ratio in both groups. According to the MRD status similar frequencies of both types of BM stromal cells were detected in BCP-ALL BM studied at different time points during the follow-up. Univariate analysis (including all relevant prognostic factors together with the percentage of stromal cells) performed in the discovery cohort was used to select covariates for a multivariate Cox regression model for predicting patient DFS. Of note, an increased percentage of EC (>32%) within the BCP-ALL BM stromal cell compartment at day +78 of therapy emerged as an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for DFS in childhood BCP-ALL in the discovery cohort—hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.50 (1−9.66); p = 0.05—together with the BM MRD status (p = 0.031). Further investigation of the predictive value of the combination of these two variables (%EC within stromal cells and MRD status at day +78) allowed classification of BCP-ALL into three risk groups with median DFS of: 3.9, 3.1 and 1.1 years, respectively (p = 0.001). These results were confirmed in two validation cohorts of childhood BCP-ALL (n = 74) (p = 0.001) and adult BCP-ALL (n = 40) (p = 0.004) treated at different centers. In summary, our findings suggest that an imbalanced EC/MSC ratio in BM at day +78 of therapy is associated with a shorter DFS of BCP-ALL patients, independently of their MRD status. Further prospective studies are needed to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms involved.

A prognostic approach on a case of pediatric Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with monosomy-7

In this work, we present the first case of a Ph-positive ALL Moroccan girl with t(9;22)(q34;q11) and monosomy-7. She was diagnosed with Ph-positive ALL based on bone marrow examination, immunophenotyping, and cytogenetic analysis. She relapsed after treatment with the persistence of the Ph chromosome and the appearance of a monosomy-7.

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: recent discoveries in molecular pathology, their prognostic significance, and a review of the current classification

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) remains a leading cause of non-traumatic death in children, and the majority of adults diagnosed will succumb to the disease. Recent advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have enabled more detailed genomic analysis and a better understanding of the molecular biology of ALL. A number of recurrent genomic drivers have recently been described, which not only aid in diagnosis and prognostication, but also may offer opportunities for specific therapeutic targeting. The present review summarises B-ALL genomic pathology at diagnosis, including lesions detectable using traditional cytogenetic methods as well as those detected only through advanced molecular techniques.

Frequency and prognostic impact of PAX5 p.P80R in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated on an AIEOP-BFM acute lymphoblastic leukemia protocol

PAX5 is a member of the paired box (PAX) family of transcription factors involved in B‐cell development. PAX5^P80R has recently been described as a distinct genetic B‐cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) subtype with a favorable prognosis in adults. In contrast, an unfavorable outcome has been observed in children. Our aim was to determine the frequency of PAX5^P80R in childhood BCP‐ALL treated according to the Associazione Italiana Ematologia ed Oncologia Pediatrica‐Berlin‐Frankfurt‐Muenster (AIEOP‐BFM) ALL 2000 protocol and to evaluate its clinical significance within this study cohort. The analyses included 1237 patients with ALL treated in the AIEOP‐BFM ALL 2000 trial with complete information for copy number variations (CNVs) of IKZF1, PAX5, ETV6, RB1, BTG1, EBF1, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and ERG. A customized TaqMan genotyping assay was used to screen for PAX5^P80R. Sanger sequencing was used to confirm PAX5^P80R‐positive results as well as to screen for second variants in PAX5. Agilent CGH + SNP arrays (e‐Array design 85 320; Agilent Technologies) were performed in PAX5^P80R‐positive patients to verify additional CNVs. Almost 2% (20/1028) of our BCP‐ALL cohort were PAX5^P80R‐positive. White blood cell counts higher than 50 000/μl as well as male sex were significantly (P < .05) associated with PAX5^P80R. Most of the PAX5^P80R‐positive cases were 10 years of age or older. PAX5^P80R‐positive samples were enriched for deletions affecting PAX5, IKZF1, CDKN2A, and CDKN2B. Compared to PAX5^P80R‐wildtype BCP‐ALL, PAX5^P80R‐positive patients showed a significantly reduced 5‐year overall survival (P = .042). Further studies should evaluate the interaction of PAX5^P80R with other genetic aberrations to further stratify intermediate risk pediatric BCP‐ALL.