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Lysenkova Wiklander M, Arvidsson G, Bunikis I, Lundmark A, Raine A, Marincevic-Zuniga Y, Gezelius H, Bremer A, Feuk L, Ameur A, Nordlund J. A multiomic characterization of the leukemia cell line REH using short- and long-read sequencing. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302481. [PMID: 38777370 PMCID: PMC11111970 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line REH, with the t(12;21) ETV6::RUNX1 translocation, is known to have a complex karyotype defined by a series of large-scale chromosomal rearrangements. Taken from a 15-yr-old at relapse, the cell line offers a practical model for the study of pediatric B-ALL. In recent years, short- and long-read DNA and RNA sequencing have emerged as a complement to karyotyping techniques in the resolution of structural variants in an oncological context. Here, we explore the integration of long-read PacBio and Oxford Nanopore whole-genome sequencing, IsoSeq RNA sequencing, and short-read Illumina sequencing to create a detailed genomic and transcriptomic characterization of the REH cell line. Whole-genome sequencing clarified the molecular traits of disrupted ALL-associated genes including CDKN2A, PAX5, BTG1, VPREB1, and TBL1XR1, as well as the glucocorticoid receptor NR3C1 Meanwhile, transcriptome sequencing identified seven fusion genes within the genomic breakpoints. Together, our extensive whole-genome investigation makes high-quality open-source data available to the leukemia genomics community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya Lysenkova Wiklander
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gustav Arvidsson
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ignas Bunikis
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 National Genomics Infrastructure, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Lundmark
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amanda Raine
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 National Genomics Infrastructure, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yanara Marincevic-Zuniga
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 National Genomics Infrastructure, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Henrik Gezelius
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 National Genomics Infrastructure, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Bremer
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/01apvbh93 Department of Clinical Genetics, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars Feuk
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 National Genomics Infrastructure, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Adam Ameur
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 National Genomics Infrastructure, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- https://ror.org/048a87296 Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- https://ror.org/048a87296 National Genomics Infrastructure, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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2
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Verma D, Kapoor S, Kumari S, Sharma D, Singh J, Benjamin M, Bakhshi S, Seth R, Nayak B, Sharma A, Pramanik R, Palanichamy JK, Sivasubbu S, Scaria V, Arora M, Kumar R, Chopra A. Decoding the genetic symphony: Profiling protein-coding and long noncoding RNA expression in T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia for clinical insights. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae011. [PMID: 38328782 PMCID: PMC10847906 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a heterogeneous malignancy characterized by the abnormal proliferation of immature T-cell precursors. Despite advances in immunophenotypic classification, understanding the molecular landscape and its impact on patient prognosis remains challenging. In this study, we conducted comprehensive RNA sequencing in a cohort of 35 patients with T-ALL to unravel the intricate transcriptomic profile. Subsequently, we validated the prognostic relevance of 23 targets, encompassing (i) protein-coding genes-BAALC, HHEX, MEF2C, FAT1, LYL1, LMO2, LYN, and TAL1; (ii) epigenetic modifiers-DOT1L, EP300, EML4, RAG1, EZH2, and KDM6A; and (iii) long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs)-XIST, PCAT18, PCAT14, LINC00202, LINC00461, LINC00648, ST20, MEF2C-AS1, and MALAT1 in an independent cohort of 99 patients with T-ALL. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clusters aligning with immunophenotypic subtypes, providing insights into the molecular heterogeneity of T-ALL. The identified signature genes exhibited associations with clinicopathologic features. Survival analysis uncovered several independent predictors of patient outcomes. Higher expression of MEF2C, BAALC, HHEX, and LYL1 genes emerged as robust indicators of poor overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS). Higher LMO2 expression was correlated with adverse EFS and RFS outcomes. Intriguingly, increased expression of lncRNA ST20 coupled with RAG1 demonstrated a favorable prognostic impact on OS, EFS, and RFS. Conclusively, several hitherto unreported associations of gene expression patterns with clinicopathologic features and prognosis were identified, which may help understand T-ALL's molecular pathogenesis and provide prognostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Verma
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Shruti Kapoor
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi-110025, India
| | - Sarita Kumari
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Disha Sharma
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi-110025, India
| | - Jay Singh
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Mercilena Benjamin
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Sameer Bakhshi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Rachna Seth
- Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Baibaswata Nayak
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Atul Sharma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Raja Pramanik
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | | | - Sridhar Sivasubbu
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi-110025, India
| | - Vinod Scaria
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi-110025, India
| | - Mohit Arora
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Rajive Kumar
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Anita Chopra
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
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3
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Wang H, Wang Y, Hao L, Liu X, Zhang J, Yao P, Liu D, Wang R. Treatment for a primary multidrug-resistant B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient carrying a SSBP2-CSF1R fusion gene: a case report. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1291570. [PMID: 38107066 PMCID: PMC10723836 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1291570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
SSBP2-CSF1R is an important biomarker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis of Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL). This case report presents a pediatric Ph-like ALL patient carrying the SSBP2-CSF1R fusion gene. The patient was resistant to most conventional chemotherapy regimens and to dasatinib, an inhibitor that has been reported to have a therapeutic effect on SSBP2-CSF1R fusion Ph-like ALL, as she remained minimal residual disease (MRD) positive (detection by flow cytometry) and SSBP2-CSF1R fusion gene (detection by RT-PCR) positive after five rounds of such regimens. We thus conducted a large-scale in vitro screening to assess the sensitivity of the patient's leukemic cells to anti-cancer drugs. Based on the susceptibility results, we chose to combine cytarabine, homoharringtonine, dexamethasone, fludarabine, vindesine, and epirubicin for treatment. Clinical results showed that after a course of treatment, both MRD and SSBP2-CSF1R fusion gene turned negative, and there was no recurrence during an 18-month follow-up. In conclusion, our study suggests that the SSBP2-CSF1R fusion gene may be an important biomarker of primary drug resistance in Ph-like ALL, and indicate that the combination of cytarabine, homoharringtonine, dexamethasone, fludarabine, vindesine, and epirubicin can achieve optimal therapeutic results in this category of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yujiao Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Liangchun Hao
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jihong Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Pin Yao
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Danping Liu
- Precision Targeted Therapy Discovery Center, Institute of Technology Innovation, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Runan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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4
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Kovach AE, Wood BL. Updates on lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma classification and minimal/measurable residual disease analysis. Semin Diagn Pathol 2023; 40:457-471. [PMID: 37953192 DOI: 10.1053/j.semdp.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL/LBL), especially certain subtypes, continues to confer morbidity and mortality despite significant therapeutic advances. The pathologic classification of ALL/LBL, especially that of B-ALL, has recently substantially expanded with the identification of several distinct and prognostically important genetic drivers. These discoveries are reflected in both current classification systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) 5th edition and the new International Consensus Classification (ICC). In this article, novel subtypes of B-ALL are reviewed, including DUX4, MEF2D and ZNF384-rearranged B-ALL; the rare pediatric entity B-ALL with TLF3::HLF, now added to the classifications, is discussed; updates to the category of B-ALL with BCR::ABL1-like features (Ph-like B-ALL) are summarized; and emerging genetic subtypes of T-ALL are presented. The second half of the article details current approaches to minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) detection in B-ALL and T-ALL and presents anticipated challenges to current approaches in the burgeoning era of antigen-directed immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Kovach
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| | - Brent L Wood
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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5
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Fehr A, Arvidsson G, Nordlund J, Lönnerholm G, Stenman G, Andersson MK. Increased MYB alternative promoter usage is associated with relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2023; 62:597-606. [PMID: 37218648 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.23151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapy-resistant disease is a major cause of death in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Activation of the MYB oncogene is associated with ALL and leads to uncontrolled neoplastic cell proliferation and blocked differentiation. Here, we used RNA-seq to study the clinical significance of MYB expression and MYB alternative promoter (TSS2) usage in 133 pediatric ALLs. RNA-seq revealed that all cases analyzed overexpressed MYB and demonstrated MYB TSS2 activity. qPCR analyses confirmed the expression of the alternative MYB promoter also in seven ALL cell lines. Notably, high MYB TSS2 activity was significantly associated with relapse (p = 0.007). Moreover, cases with high MYB TSS2 usage showed evidence of therapy-resistant disease with increased expression of ABC multidrug resistance transporter genes (e.g., ABCA2, ABCB5, and ABCC10) and enzymes catalyzing drug degradation (e.g., CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP3A5). Elevated MYB TSS2 activity was further associated with augmented KRAS signaling (p < 0.05) and decreased methylation of the conventional MYB promoter (p < 0.01). Taken together, our results suggest that MYB alternative promoter usage is a novel potential prognostic biomarker for relapse and therapy resistance in pediatric ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Fehr
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Pathology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gustav Arvidsson
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gudmar Lönnerholm
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Göran Stenman
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Pathology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mattias K Andersson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Pathology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Campolungo D, Salomé M, Biferali B, Tascini AS, Gabellini D. DUX4-r exerts a neomorphic activity that depends on GTF2I in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi3771. [PMID: 37713484 PMCID: PMC10881058 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi3771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Translocations producing rearranged versions of the transcription factor double homeobox 4 (DUX4-r) are one of the most frequent causes of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). DUX4-r retains the DNA binding domain of wild-type DUX4 but is truncated on the C-terminal transcription activation domain. The precise mechanism through which DUX4-r causes leukemia is unknown, and no targeted therapy is currently available. We found that the rearrangement leads to both a loss and a gain of function in DUX4-r. Loss of CBP/EP300 transcriptional coactivator interaction leads to an inability to bind and activate repressed chromatin. Concurrently, a gain of interaction with the general transcription factor 2 I (GTF2I) redirects DUX4-r toward leukemogenic targets. This neomorphic activity exposes an Achilles' heel whereby DUX4-r-positive leukemia cells are exquisitely sensitive to GTF2I targeting, which inhibits DUX4-r leukemogenic activity. Our work elucidates the molecular mechanism through which DUX4-r causes leukemia and suggests a possible therapeutic avenue tailored to this B-ALL subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Campolungo
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy
| | - Mara Salomé
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy
| | - Beatrice Biferali
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Sofia Tascini
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Gabellini
- Gene Expression and Muscular Dystrophy Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy
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7
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Rezayee F, Eisfeldt J, Skaftason A, Öfverholm I, Sayyab S, Syvänen AC, Maqbool K, Lilljebjörn H, Johansson B, Olsson-Arvidsson L, Pietras CO, Staffas A, Palmqvist L, Fioretos T, Cavelier L, Fogelstrand L, Nordlund J, Wirta V, Rosenquist R, Barbany G. Feasibility to use whole-genome sequencing as a sole diagnostic method to detect genomic aberrations in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1217712. [PMID: 37664045 PMCID: PMC10470829 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1217712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The suitability of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as the sole method to detect clinically relevant genomic aberrations in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated with the aim of replacing current diagnostic methods. Methods For this purpose, we assessed the analytical performance of 150 bp paired-end WGS (90x leukemia/30x germline). A set of 88 retrospective B-cell ALL samples were selected to represent established ALL subgroups as well as ALL lacking stratifying markers by standard-of-care (SoC), so-called B-other ALL. Results Both the analysis of paired leukemia/germline (L/N)(n=64) as well as leukemia-only (L-only)(n=88) detected all types of aberrations mandatory in the current ALLTogether trial protocol, i.e., aneuploidies, structural variants, and focal copy-number aberrations. Moreover, comparison to SoC revealed 100% concordance and that all patients had been assigned to the correct genetic subgroup using both approaches. Notably, WGS could allocate 35 out of 39 B-other ALL samples to one of the emerging genetic subgroups considered in the most recent classifications of ALL. We further investigated the impact of high (90x; n=58) vs low (30x; n=30) coverage on the diagnostic yield and observed an equally perfect concordance with SoC; low coverage detected all relevant lesions. Discussion The filtration of the WGS findings with a short list of genes recurrently rearranged in ALL was instrumental to extract the clinically relevant information efficiently. Nonetheless, the detection of DUX4 rearrangements required an additional customized analysis, due to multiple copies of this gene embedded in the highly repetitive D4Z4 region. We conclude that the diagnostic performance of WGS as the standalone method was remarkable and allowed detection of all clinically relevant genomic events in the diagnostic setting of B-cell ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemah Rezayee
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jesper Eisfeldt
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aron Skaftason
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingegerd Öfverholm
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shumaila Sayyab
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ann Christine Syvänen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Khurram Maqbool
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henrik Lilljebjörn
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bertil Johansson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Pathology, and Molecular Diagnostics, Office for Medical Services, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Linda Olsson-Arvidsson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Pathology, and Molecular Diagnostics, Office for Medical Services, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Anna Staffas
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lars Palmqvist
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thoas Fioretos
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Pathology, and Molecular Diagnostics, Office for Medical Services, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
- Clinical Genomics Lund, Science for Life Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lucia Cavelier
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda Fogelstrand
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Valtteri Wirta
- Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Genomic Medicine Center Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Richard Rosenquist
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Genomic Medicine Center Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gisela Barbany
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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Kovach AE, Raca G. Modern Classification and Management of Pediatric B-cell Leukemia and Lymphoma. Surg Pathol Clin 2023; 16:249-266. [PMID: 37149359 DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Although pediatric hematopathology overlaps with that of adults, certain forms of leukemia and lymphoma, and many types of reactive conditions affecting the bone marrow and lymph nodes, are unique to children. As part of this series focused on lymphomas, this article (1) details the novel subtypes of lymphoblastic leukemia seen primarily in children and described since the 2017 World Health Organization classification and (2) discusses unique concepts in pediatric hematopathology, including nomenclature changes and evaluation of surgical margins in selected lymphomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra E Kovach
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Clinical Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
| | - Gordana Raca
- Clinical Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA; Division of Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Personalized Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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9
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Ivanov AV, Alecsa MS, Popescu R, Starcea MI, Mocanu AM, Rusu C, Miron IC. Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Emerging Therapies-From Pathway to Target. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054661. [PMID: 36902091 PMCID: PMC10003692 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past 40 years, the 5-years-overall survival rate of pediatric cancer reached 75-80%, and for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), exceeded 90%. Leukemia continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity for specific patient populations, including infants, adolescents, and patients with high-risk genetic abnormalities. The future of leukemia treatment needs to count better on molecular therapies as well as immune and cellular therapy. Advances in the scientific interface have led naturally to advances in the treatment of childhood cancer. These discoveries have involved the recognition of the importance of chromosomal abnormalities, the amplification of the oncogenes, the aberration of tumor suppressor genes, as well as the dysregulation of cellular signaling and cell cycle control. Lately, novel therapies that have already proven efficient on relapsed/refractory ALL in adults are being evaluated in clinical trials for young patients. Tirosine kinase inhibitors are, by now, part of the standardized treatment of Ph+ALL pediatric patients, and Blinatumomab, with promising results in clinical trials, received both FDA and EMA approval for use in children. Moreover, other targeted therapies such as aurora-kinase inhibitors, MEK-inhibitors, and proteasome-inhibitors are involved in clinical trials that include pediatric patients. This is an overview of the novel leukemia therapies that have been developed starting from the molecular discoveries and those that have been applied in pediatric populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Viorica Ivanov
- Pediatrics Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Mirabela Smaranda Alecsa
- Pediatrics Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Correspondence: (M.S.A.); (R.P.)
| | - Roxana Popescu
- Medical Genetics Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Correspondence: (M.S.A.); (R.P.)
| | - Magdalena Iuliana Starcea
- Pediatrics Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Adriana Maria Mocanu
- Pediatrics Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Cristina Rusu
- Medical Genetics Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ingrith Crenguta Miron
- Pediatrics Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
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10
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Chemistry of Hydrogen Peroxide Formation and Elimination in Mammalian Cells, and Its Role in Various Pathologies. STRESSES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/stresses2030019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a compound involved in some mammalian reactions and processes. It modulates and signals the redox metabolism of cells by acting as a messenger together with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and the nitric oxide radical (•NO), activating specific oxidations that determine the metabolic response. The reaction triggered determines cell survival or apoptosis, depending on which downstream metabolic pathways are activated. There are several ways to produce H2O2 in cells, and cellular systems tightly control its concentration. At the cellular level, the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide can trigger inflammation and even apoptosis, and when its concentration in the blood reaches toxic levels, it can lead to bioenergetic failure. This review summarizes existing research from a chemical perspective on the role of H2O2 in various enzymatic pathways and how this biochemistry leads to physiological or pathological responses.
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11
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Mäkinen VP, Rehn J, Breen J, Yeung D, White DL. Multi-Cohort Transcriptomic Subtyping of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4574. [PMID: 35562965 PMCID: PMC9099612 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA sequencing provides a snapshot of the functional consequences of genomic lesions that drive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The aims of this study were to elucidate diagnostic associations (via machine learning) between mRNA-seq profiles, independently verify ALL lesions and develop easy-to-interpret transcriptome-wide biomarkers for ALL subtyping in the clinical setting. A training dataset of 1279 ALL patients from six North American cohorts was used for developing machine learning models. Results were validated in 767 patients from Australia with a quality control dataset across 31 tissues from 1160 non-ALL donors. A novel batch correction method was introduced and applied to adjust for cohort differences. Out of 18,503 genes with usable expression, 11,830 (64%) were confounded by cohort effects and excluded. Six ALL subtypes (ETV6::RUNX1, KMT2A, DUX4, PAX5 P80R, TCF3::PBX1, ZNF384) that covered 32% of patients were robustly detected by mRNA-seq (positive predictive value ≥ 87%). Five other frequent subtypes (CRLF2, hypodiploid, hyperdiploid, PAX5 alterations and Ph-positive) were distinguishable in 40% of patients at lower accuracy (52% ≤ positive predictive value ≤ 73%). Based on these findings, we introduce the Allspice R package to predict ALL subtypes and driver genes from unadjusted mRNA-seq read counts as encountered in real-world settings. Two examples of Allspice applied to previously unseen ALL patient samples with atypical lesions are included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ville-Petteri Mäkinen
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Australian Centre for Precision Health, UniSA Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Computational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
- Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland
| | - Jacqueline Rehn
- Blood Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.R.); (D.Y.); (D.L.W.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
| | - James Breen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
- South Australian Genomics Centre, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - David Yeung
- Blood Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.R.); (D.Y.); (D.L.W.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
- Australian and New Zealand Children’s Oncology Group, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
- Department of Haematology, Royal Adelaide Hospital and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Deborah L. White
- Blood Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.R.); (D.Y.); (D.L.W.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
- Australian and New Zealand Children’s Oncology Group, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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12
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Roosen M, Odé Z, Bunt J, Kool M. The oncogenic fusion landscape in pediatric CNS neoplasms. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:427-451. [PMID: 35169893 PMCID: PMC8960661 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02405-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric neoplasms in the central nervous system (CNS) are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Recent developments in molecular analyses have greatly contributed to a more accurate diagnosis and risk stratification of CNS tumors. Additionally, sequencing studies have identified various, often entity specific, tumor-driving events. In contrast to adult tumors, which often harbor multiple mutated oncogenic drivers, the number of mutated genes in pediatric cancers is much lower and many tumors can have a single oncogenic driver. Moreover, in children, much more than in adults, fusion proteins play an important role in driving tumorigenesis, and many different fusions have been identified as potential driver events in pediatric CNS neoplasms. However, a comprehensive overview of all the different reported oncogenic fusion proteins in pediatric CNS neoplasms is still lacking. A better understanding of the fusion proteins detected in these tumors and of the molecular mechanisms how these proteins drive tumorigenesis, could improve diagnosis and further benefit translational research into targeted therapies necessary to treat these distinct entities. In this review, we discuss the different oncogenic fusions reported in pediatric CNS neoplasms and their structure to create an overview of the variety of oncogenic fusion proteins to date, the tumor entities they occur in and their proposed mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke Roosen
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Zelda Odé
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jens Bunt
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Kool
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ and German Cancer Consortium DKTK, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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13
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Dickerson KM, Qu C, Gao Q, Iacobucci I, Gu Z, Yoshihara H, Backhaus EA, Chang Y, Janke LJ, Xu B, Wu G, Papachristou EK, D'Santos CS, Roberts KG, Mullighan CG. ZNF384 fusion oncoproteins drive lineage aberrancy in acute leukemia. Blood Cancer Discov 2022; 3:240-263. [PMID: 35247902 DOI: 10.1158/2643-3230.bcd-21-0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
ZNF384-rearranged fusion oncoproteins (FO) define a subset of lineage ambiguous leukemias, but their mechanistic role in leukemogenesis and lineage ambiguity is poorly understood. Using viral expression in mouse and human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and a Ep300::Znf384 knockin mouse model, we show that ZNF384 FO promote hematopoietic expansion, myeloid lineage skewing, and self-renewal. In mouse HSPCs, concomitant lesions, such as NRASG12D, were required for fully penetrant leukemia, whereas in human HSPCs expression of ZNF384 FO drove B/myeloid leukemia, with sensitivity of a ZNF384-rearranged xenograft to FLT3 inhibition in vivo. Mechanistically, ZNF384 FO occupy a subset of predominantly intragenic/enhancer regions with increased histone 3 lysine acetylation and deregulate expression of hematopoietic stem cell transcription factors. These data define a paradigm for FO-driven lineage ambiguous leukemia, in which expression in HSPCs results in deregulation of lineage-specific genes and hematopoietic skewing, progressing to full leukemia in the context of proliferative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chunxu Qu
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
| | - Qingsong Gao
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | - Ilaria Iacobucci
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
| | - Zhaohui Gu
- City Of Hope National Medical Center, United States
| | | | - Emily A Backhaus
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Yunchao Chang
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Laura J Janke
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Beisi Xu
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Gang Wu
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States
| | | | - Clive S D'Santos
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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14
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Hangul C, Tokta O, Berker Karauzum S, Akkaya B, Yıldırım H, Tayfun Kupesiz F, Akınel AN. Analysis of DUX4 Expression in Bone Marrow and Re-Discussion of DUX4 Function in the Health and Disease. Turk Patoloji Derg 2022; 38:219-226. [PMID: 34854471 PMCID: PMC10508413 DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2021.01564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE DUX4 is an embryonic transcription factor (TF) later silenced in somatic tissues, while active in germline testis cells. Re-expression in somatic cells has been revealed to be present in pathologic conditions such as dystrophy, leukemia, and other cancer types. Embryonic cells, cancer cells and testis cells that show DUX4 expression are pluri-multipotent cells. This lead us to question "Could DUX4 be a TF that is active in certain types of potent somatic cells?" As a perfect reflection of the potent cell pool, we aimed to reveal DUX4 expression in the bone marrow. MATERIAL AND METHOD Bone marrow aspiration materials of seven healthy donors aged between 3 and 32 (2 males/5 females) were investigated with qPCR analysis after RNA isolation for the presence of DUX4 full length mRNA expression. Samples have been investigated for protein existence of DUX4 via immunohistochemistry in two donors that had sufficient aspiration material. RESULTS DUX4 mRNA expression was present in all donors, with higher expression compared to B-actin. DUX4 positive stained cells were also detected by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION With these results, novel expression for DUX4 in hematopoietic tissue is described. Further studies on the function of DUX4 in hematopoietic cells can shed light on DUX4-related pathways, and contribute to the treatment of DUX4-related diseases such as B-ALL, other cancers, and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceren Hangul
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Oznur Tokta
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Sibel Berker Karauzum
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Bahar Akkaya
- Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Hulya Yıldırım
- Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Funda Tayfun Kupesiz
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Ayse Nur Akınel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
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15
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Angione SDA, Akalu AY, Gartrell J, Fletcher EP, Burckart GJ, Reaman GH, Leong R, Stewart CF. Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers: Potential Role in Targeted Therapy. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2021; 26:541-555. [PMID: 34421403 PMCID: PMC8372856 DOI: 10.5863/1551-6776-26.6.541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease in children. Historically, in contrast to their adult counterparts, the causes of pediatric malignancies have remained largely unknown, with most pediatric cancers displaying low mutational burdens. Research related to molecular genetics in pediatric cancers is advancing our understanding of potential drivers of tumorigenesis and opening new opportunities for targeted therapies. One such area is fusion oncoproteins, which are a product of chromosomal rearrangements resulting in the fusion of different genes. They have been identified as oncogenic drivers in several sarcomas and leukemias. Continued advancement in the understanding of the biology of fusion oncoproteins will contribute to the discovery and development of new therapies for childhood cancers. Here we review the current scientific knowledge on fusion oncoproteins, focusing on pediatric sarcomas and hematologic cancers, and highlight the challenges and current efforts in developing drugs to target fusion oncoproteins.
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16
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Lee SHR, Li Z, Tai ST, Oh BLZ, Yeoh AEJ. Genetic Alterations in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Interactions with Clinical Features and Treatment Response. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4068. [PMID: 34439222 PMCID: PMC8393341 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13164068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer among children. This aggressive cancer comprises multiple molecular subtypes, each harboring a distinct constellation of somatic, and to a lesser extent, inherited genetic alterations. With recent advances in genomic analyses such as next-generation sequencing techniques, we can now clearly identify >20 different genetic subtypes in ALL. Clinically, identifying these genetic subtypes will better refine risk stratification and determine the optimal intensity of therapy for each patient. Underpinning each genetic subtype are unique clinical and therapeutic characteristics, such as age and presenting white blood cell (WBC) count. More importantly, within each genetic subtype, there is much less variability in treatment response and survival outcomes compared with current risk factors such as National Cancer Institute (NCI) criteria. We review how this new taxonomy of genetic subtypes in childhood ALL interacts with clinical risk factors used widely, i.e., age, presenting WBC, IKZF1del, treatment response, and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn H. R. Lee
- VIVA-University Children’s Cancer Centre, Khoo-Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore; (S.H.R.L.); (B.L.Z.O.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; (Z.L.); (S.T.T.)
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; (Z.L.); (S.T.T.)
| | - Si Ting Tai
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; (Z.L.); (S.T.T.)
| | - Bernice L. Z. Oh
- VIVA-University Children’s Cancer Centre, Khoo-Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore; (S.H.R.L.); (B.L.Z.O.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; (Z.L.); (S.T.T.)
| | - Allen E. J. Yeoh
- VIVA-University Children’s Cancer Centre, Khoo-Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore; (S.H.R.L.); (B.L.Z.O.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore; (Z.L.); (S.T.T.)
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17
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Sayyab S, Lundmark A, Larsson M, Ringnér M, Nystedt S, Marincevic-Zuniga Y, Tamm KP, Abrahamsson J, Fogelstrand L, Heyman M, Norén-Nyström U, Lönnerholm G, Harila-Saari A, Berglund EC, Nordlund J, Syvänen AC. Mutational patterns and clonal evolution from diagnosis to relapse in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15988. [PMID: 34362951 PMCID: PMC8346595 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95109-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms driving clonal heterogeneity and evolution in relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are not fully understood. We performed whole genome sequencing of samples collected at diagnosis, relapse(s) and remission from 29 Nordic patients. Somatic point mutations and large-scale structural variants were called using individually matched remission samples as controls, and allelic expression of the mutations was assessed in ALL cells using RNA-sequencing. We observed an increased burden of somatic mutations at relapse, compared to diagnosis, and at second relapse compared to first relapse. In addition to 29 known ALL driver genes, of which nine genes carried recurrent protein-coding mutations in our sample set, we identified putative non-protein coding mutations in regulatory regions of seven additional genes that have not previously been described in ALL. Cluster analysis of hundreds of somatic mutations per sample revealed three distinct evolutionary trajectories during ALL progression from diagnosis to relapse. The evolutionary trajectories provide insight into the mutational mechanisms leading relapse in ALL and could offer biomarkers for improved risk prediction in individual patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumaila Sayyab
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 1432, 75144, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Anders Lundmark
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 1432, 75144, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Malin Larsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Markus Ringnér
- Department of Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Nystedt
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 1432, 75144, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yanara Marincevic-Zuniga
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 1432, 75144, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Jonas Abrahamsson
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,For the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda Fogelstrand
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,For the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Heyman
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,For the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Norén-Nyström
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden.,For the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gudmar Lönnerholm
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Arja Harila-Saari
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,For the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva C Berglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 1432, 75144, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 1432, 75144, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ann-Christine Syvänen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 1432, 75144, Uppsala, Sweden.
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18
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Walter W, Shahswar R, Stengel A, Meggendorfer M, Kern W, Haferlach T, Haferlach C. Clinical application of whole transcriptome sequencing for the classification of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:886. [PMID: 34340673 PMCID: PMC8330044 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08635-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the clinical and genetic characteristics, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rather heterogeneous hematological neoplasm for which current standard diagnostics require various analyses encompassing morphology, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular analysis of gene fusions and mutations. Hence, it would be desirable to rely on a technique and an analytical workflow that allows the simultaneous analysis and identification of all the genetic alterations in a single approach. Moreover, based on the results with standard methods, a significant amount of patients have no established abnormalities and hence, cannot further be stratified. METHODS We performed WTS and WGS in 279 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients (B-cell: n = 211; T-cell: n = 68) to assess the accuracy of WTS, to detect relevant genetic markers, and to classify ALL patients. RESULTS DNA and RNA-based genotyping was used to ensure correct WTS-WGS pairing. Gene expression analysis reliably assigned samples to the B Cell Precursor (BCP)-ALL or the T-ALL group. Subclassification of BCP-ALL samples was done progressively, assessing first the presence of chromosomal rearrangements by the means of fusion detection. Compared to the standard methods, 97% of the recurrent risk-stratifying fusions could be identified by WTS, assigning 76 samples to their respective entities. Additionally, read-through fusions (indicative of CDKN2A and RB1 gene deletions) were recurrently detected in the cohort along with 57 putative novel fusions, with yet untouched diagnostic potentials. Next, copy number variations were inferred from WTS data to identify relevant ploidy groups, classifying an additional of 31 samples. Lastly, gene expression profiling detected a BCR-ABL1-like signature in 27% of the remaining samples. CONCLUSION As a single assay, WTS allowed a precise genetic classification for the majority of BCP-ALL patients, and is superior to conventional methods in the cases which lack entity defining genetic abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencke Walter
- MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | - Rabia Shahswar
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Stengel
- MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Manja Meggendorfer
- MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kern
- MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Torsten Haferlach
- MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia Haferlach
- MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Max-Lebsche-Platz 31, 81377, Munich, Germany
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19
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Lin N, Yan X, Cai D, Wang L. Leukemia With TCF3-ZNF384 Rearrangement as a Distinct Subtype of Disease With Distinct Treatments: Perspectives From A Case Report and Literature Review. Front Oncol 2021; 11:709036. [PMID: 34395283 PMCID: PMC8357369 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.709036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background ZNF384 rearrangements are found in 5-10% of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and 48% of B cell/myeloid mixed phenotype acute leukemia (B/M MPAL). ZNF384-rearranged B-ALL is prone to lineage conversion after chemotherapy. TCF3 is the second most common rearrangement partner of ZNF384 in B-ALL (27.5%) and the most common partner in B/M MPAL (53.3%). TCF3-ZNF384 fusion is related to a poor steroid response and a high frequency of relapse. It is mostly reported in children and adolescents but rarely seen in adults. Patients and Methods Here, we report a rare case of adult common B-ALL with TCF3-ZNF384 fusion in which the patient relapsed after one cycle of consolidation chemotherapy. Relapsed leukemia cells from the bone marrow were cultured for 72 hours ex vivo, and a panel of 156 kinds of cytotoxic drugs, targeted therapy drugs, combination chemotherapy drugs, etc., was used for sensitivity screening. The literature on TCF3-ZNF384 fusion was reviewed, and reported cases with TCF3-ZNF384 fusion were summarized. Clinical characteristics were compared between B-ALL and MPAL with TCF3-ZNF384 fusion. Results The relapsed lymphoblasts showed moderate sensitivity to both acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) - and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)-directed combination chemotherapy schemes, as well as to multiple targeted therapeutic drugs. The hyper-CVAD (B) scheme showed synergistic effects with multiple targeted compounds and had the highest sensitivity. The patient chose the hyper-CVAD (B) scheme combined with sorafenib and achieved complete remission (CR), then consolidated with myeloid-directed homoharringtonine+cytarabine+daunorubicin (HAD) scheme and gained molecular CR. By reviewing the literature, we found that both the genomic landscapes and gene expression profiles of ZNF384-rearranged B-ALL and MPAL are similar and that both diseases have lineage plasticity. The gene expression profile in TCF3-ZNF384-positive patients shows enrichment of hematopoietic stem cell features. No significant differences in clinical characteristics were found between TCF3-ZNF384-positive ALL and MPAL. Conclusion TCF3-ZNF384-positive leukemia may be a distinct subtype of leukemia regardless of immunophenotype. Considering the frequent lineage switches and sensitivity to both ALL- and AML-directed schemes, a uniform strategy directed at both lymphoid and myeloid lineages or at hematopoietic stem cells may be better for TCF3-ZNF384-positive leukemia. Small molecule targeted therapies may be promising treatment options and deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Lin
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaojing Yan
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dali Cai
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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20
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Chen D, Camponeschi A, Nordlund J, Marincevic‐Zuniga Y, Abrahamsson J, Lönnerholm G, Fogelstrand L, Mårtensson I. RAG1 co-expression signature identifies ETV6-RUNX1-like B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. Cancer Med 2021; 10:3997-4003. [PMID: 33987955 PMCID: PMC8209579 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) can be classified into subtypes according to the genetic aberrations they display. For instance, the translocation t(12;21)(p13;q22), representing the ETV6-RUNX1 fusion gene (ER), is present in a quarter of BCP-ALL cases. However, around 10% of the cases lack classifying chromosomal abnormalities (B-other). In pediatric ER BCP-ALL, rearrangement mediated by RAG (recombination-activating genes) has been proposed as the predominant driver of oncogenic rearrangement. Herein we analyzed almost 1600 pediatric BCP-ALL samples to determine which subtypes express RAG. We demonstrate that RAG1 mRNA levels are especially high in the ETV6-RUNX1 (ER) subtype and in a subset of B-other samples. We also define 31 genes that are co-expressed with RAG1 (RAG1-signature) in the ER subtype, a signature that also identifies this subset of B-other samples. Moreover, this subset also shares leukemia and pro-B gene expression signatures as well as high levels of the ETV6 target genes (BIRC7, WBP1L, CLIC5, ANGPTL2) with the ER subtype, indicating that these B-other cases are the recently identified ER-like subtype. We validated our results in a cohort where ER-like has been defined, which confirmed expression of the RAG1-signature in this recently described subtype. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the RAG1-signature identifies the ER-like subtype. As there are no definitive genetic markers to identify this novel subtype, the RAG1-signature represents a means to screen for this leukemia in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongfeng Chen
- Institute of Life SciencesJiangsu UniversityZhenjiangChina
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation ResearchInstitute of MedicineSahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Alessandro Camponeschi
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation ResearchInstitute of MedicineSahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical SciencesMolecular Medicine and Science for Life LaboratoryUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Yanara Marincevic‐Zuniga
- Department of Medical SciencesMolecular Medicine and Science for Life LaboratoryUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Jonas Abrahamsson
- Department of PediatricsInstitute of Clinical SciencesSahlgrenska University HospitalGothenburgSweden
| | - Gudmar Lönnerholm
- Department of Women and Children’s HealthUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Linda Fogelstrand
- Department of Clinical ChemistrySahlgrenska University HospitalGothenburgSweden
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion MedicineUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Inga‐Lill Mårtensson
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation ResearchInstitute of MedicineSahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
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21
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Mäkinen A, Nikkilä A, Mehtonen J, Teppo S, Oksa L, Nordlund J, Rounioja S, Pohjolainen V, Laukkanen S, Heinäniemi M, Paavonen T, Lohi O. Expression of BCL6 in paediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and association with prognosis. Pathology 2021; 53:875-882. [PMID: 34049715 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2021.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
B-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) is the most common paediatric malignancy. Transcription factor B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is essential to germinal centre formation and antibody affinity maturation and plays a major role in mature B-cell malignancies. More recently, it was shown to act as a critical downstream regulator in pre-BCR+ B-ALL. We investigated the expression of the BCL6 protein in a population-based cohort of paediatric B-ALL cases and detected moderate to strong positivity through immunohistochemistry in 7% of cases (8/117); however, only two of eight BCL6 cases (25%) co-expressed the ZAP70 protein. In light of these data, the subtype with active pre-BCR signalling constitutes a rare entity in paediatric B-ALL. In three independent larger cohorts with gene expression data, high BCL6 mRNA levels were associated with the TCF3-PBX1, Ph-like, NUTM1, MEF2D and PAX5-alt subgroups and the 'metagene' signature for pre-BCR-associated genes. However, higher-than-median BCL6 mRNA level alone was associated with favourable event free survival in the Nordic paediatric cohort, indicating that using BCL6 as a diagnostic marker requires careful design, and evaluation of protein level is needed alongside the genetic or transcriptomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artturi Mäkinen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Atte Nikkilä
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Juha Mehtonen
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Susanna Teppo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Oksa
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Samuli Rounioja
- Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Hematology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Virva Pohjolainen
- Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Saara Laukkanen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Merja Heinäniemi
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Timo Paavonen
- Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Olli Lohi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Tays Cancer Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
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22
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Redox Control in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: From Physiology to Pathology and Therapeutic Opportunities. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051218. [PMID: 34067520 PMCID: PMC8155968 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological malignancy originating from B- or T-lymphoid progenitor cells. Recent studies have shown that redox dysregulation caused by overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has an important role in the development and progression of leukemia. The application of pro-oxidant therapy, which targets redox dysregulation, has achieved satisfactory results in alleviating the conditions of and improving the survival rate for patients with ALL. However, drug resistance and side effects are two major challenges that must be addressed in pro-oxidant therapy. Oxidative stress can activate a variety of antioxidant mechanisms to help leukemia cells escape the damage caused by pro-oxidant drugs and develop drug resistance. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are extremely sensitive to oxidative stress due to their low levels of differentiation, and the use of pro-oxidant drugs inevitably causes damage to HSCs and may even cause severe bone marrow suppression. In this article, we reviewed research progress regarding the generation and regulation of ROS in normal HSCs and ALL cells as well as the impact of ROS on the biological behavior and fate of cells. An in-depth understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of redox homeostasis in normal and malignant HSCs is conducive to the formulation of rational targeted treatment plans to effectively reduce oxidative damage to normal HSCs while eradicating ALL cells.
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23
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Rehn JA, O’Connor MJ, White DL, Yeung DT. DUX Hunting-Clinical Features and Diagnostic Challenges Associated with DUX4-Rearranged Leukaemia. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102815. [PMID: 33007870 PMCID: PMC7599557 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary DUX4-rearrangement (DUX4r) is a recently discovered recurrent genomic lesion reported in 4–7% of childhood B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) cases. This subtype has favourable outcomes, especially in children and adolescents treated with intensive chemotherapy. The fusion most commonly links the hypervariable IGH gene to DUX4 a gene located within the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat on chromosome 4. DUX4r is cryptic to most standard diagnostic techniques, and difficult to identify even with next generation sequencing assays. This review summarises the clinical features and molecular genetics of DUX4r B-ALL and proposes prospective new diagnostic methods. Abstract DUX4-rearrangement (DUX4r) is a recently discovered recurrent genomic lesion reported in 4–7% of childhood B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) cases. This subtype has favourable outcomes, especially in children and adolescents treated with intensive chemotherapy. The fusion most commonly links the hypervariable IGH gene to DUX4 a gene located within the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat on chromosome 4, with a homologous polymorphic repeat on chromosome 10. DUX4r is cryptic to most standard diagnostic techniques, and difficult to identify even with next generation sequencing assays. This review summarises the clinical features and molecular genetics of DUX4r B-ALL and proposes prospective new diagnostic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A. Rehn
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.A.R.); (D.T.Y.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Matthew J. O’Connor
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.A.R.); (D.T.Y.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Michael Rice Centre for Haematology and Oncology, Womens’s & Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
| | - Deborah L. White
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.A.R.); (D.T.Y.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Australian Genomics, The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Australian and New Zealand Children’s Oncology Group (ANZCHOG), Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - David T. Yeung
- Cancer Program, Precision Medicine Theme, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (J.A.R.); (D.T.Y.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Department of Haematology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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24
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Sklarz LM, Gladbach YS, Ernst M, Hamed M, Roolf C, Sender S, Beck J, Schütz E, Fischer S, Struckmann S, Junghanss C, Fuellen G, Murua Escobar H. Combination of the PI3K inhibitor Idelalisib with the conventional cytostatics cytarabine and dexamethasone leads to changes in pathway activation that induce anti-proliferative effects in B lymphoblastic leukaemia cell lines. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:390. [PMID: 32817744 PMCID: PMC7425054 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01431-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The introduction of combined conventional cytostatics and pathway-specific inhibitors has opened new treatment options for several cancer types including hematologic neoplasia such as leukaemias. As the detailed understanding of the combination-induced molecular effects is often lacking, the identification of combination-induced molecular mechanisms bears significant value for the further development of interventional approaches. METHODS Combined application of conventional cytostatic agents (cytarabine and dexamethasone) with the PI3K-inhibitor Idelalisib was analysed on cell-biologic parameters in two acute pro-B lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) cell lines. In particular, for comparative characterisation of the molecular signatures induced by the combined and mono application, whole transcriptome sequencing was performed. Emphasis was placed on pathways and genes exclusively regulated by drug combinations. RESULTS Idelalisib + cytostatics combinations changed pathway activation for, e.g., "Retinoblastoma in cancer", "TGF-b signalling", "Cell cycle" and "DNA-damage response" to a greater extent than the two cytostatics alone. Analyses of the top-20 regulated genes revealed that both combinations induce characteristic gene expression changes. CONCLUSION A specific set of genes was exclusively deregulated by the drug combinations, matching the combination-specific anti-proliferative cell-biologic effects. The addition of Idelalisib suggests minor synergistic effects which are rather to be classified as additive.
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Affiliation(s)
- L.-M. Sklarz
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology/Oncology/Palliative Care, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Y. S. Gladbach
- Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research (IBIMA), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Applied Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M. Ernst
- Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research (IBIMA), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M. Hamed
- Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research (IBIMA), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - C. Roolf
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology/Oncology/Palliative Care, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - S. Sender
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology/Oncology/Palliative Care, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - J. Beck
- Chronix Biomedical GmbH, Göttingen, Germany
| | - E. Schütz
- Chronix Biomedical GmbH, Göttingen, Germany
| | - S. Fischer
- Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research (IBIMA), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - S. Struckmann
- Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research (IBIMA), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - C. Junghanss
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology/Oncology/Palliative Care, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - G. Fuellen
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology/Oncology/Palliative Care, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - H. Murua Escobar
- Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology/Oncology/Palliative Care, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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25
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Evidence-based review of genomic aberrations in B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma: Report from the cancer genomics consortium working group for lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Genet 2020; 243:52-72. [PMID: 32302940 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Clinical management and risk stratification of B-lymphoblastic leukemia/ lymphoma (B-ALL/LBL) depend largely on identification of chromosomal abnormalities obtained using conventional cytogenetics and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) testing. In the last few decades, testing algorithms have been implemented to support an optimal risk-oriented therapy, leading to a large improvement in overall survival. In addition, large scale genomic studies have identified multiple aberrations of prognostic significance that are not routinely tested by existing modalities. However, as chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies are increasingly used in clinical management of hematologic malignancies, these abnormalities may be more readily detected. In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the current B-ALL literature, focusing on known and published subtypes described to date. More specifically, we describe the role of various testing modalities in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic relevance. In addition, we propose a testing algorithm aimed at assisting laboratories in the most effective detection of the underlying genomic abnormalities.
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26
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Refined detection and phasing of structural aberrations in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia by linked-read whole-genome sequencing. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2512. [PMID: 32054878 PMCID: PMC7018692 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59214-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural chromosomal rearrangements that can lead to in-frame gene-fusions are a leading source of information for diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Traditional methods such as karyotyping and FISH struggle to accurately identify and phase such large-scale chromosomal aberrations in ALL genomes. We therefore evaluated linked-read WGS for detecting chromosomal rearrangements in primary samples of from 12 patients diagnosed with ALL. We assessed the effect of input DNA quality on phased haplotype block size and the detectability of copy number aberrations and structural variants in the ALL genomes. We found that biobanked DNA isolated by standard column-based extraction methods was sufficient to detect chromosomal rearrangements even at low 10x sequencing coverage. Linked-read WGS enabled precise, allele-specific, digital karyotyping at a base-pair resolution for a wide range of structural variants including complex rearrangements and aneuploidy assessment. With use of haplotype information from the linked-reads, we also identified previously unknown structural variants, such as a compound heterozygous deletion of ERG in a patient with the DUX4-IGH fusion gene. We conclude that linked-read WGS allows detection of important pathogenic variants in ALL genomes at a resolution beyond that of traditional karyotyping and FISH.
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27
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Grönroos T, Mäkinen A, Laukkanen S, Mehtonen J, Nikkilä A, Oksa L, Rounioja S, Marincevic-Zuniga Y, Nordlund J, Pohjolainen V, Paavonen T, Heinäniemi M, Lohi O. Clinicopathological features and prognostic value of SOX11 in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2043. [PMID: 32029838 PMCID: PMC7005266 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58970-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is marked by aberrant transcriptional features that alter cell differentiation, self-renewal, and proliferative features. We sought to identify the transcription factors exhibiting altered and subtype-specific expression patterns in B-ALL and report here that SOX11, a developmental and neuronal transcription factor, is aberrantly expressed in the ETV6-RUNX1 and TCF3-PBX1 subtypes of acute B-cell leukemias. We show that a high expression of SOX11 leads to alterations of gene expression that are typically associated with cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. A high expression is associated with DNA hypomethylation at the SOX11 locus and a favorable outcome. The results indicate that SOX11 expression marks a group of patients with good outcomes and thereby prompts further study of its use as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Grönroos
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Artturi Mäkinen
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Saara Laukkanen
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Juha Mehtonen
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Atte Nikkilä
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Oksa
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Samuli Rounioja
- Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Hematology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Yanara Marincevic-Zuniga
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Virva Pohjolainen
- Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Timo Paavonen
- Fimlab Laboratories, Department of Pathology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Merja Heinäniemi
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Lohi
- Tampere Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
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28
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Ivanov Öfverholm I, Zachariadis V, Taylan F, Marincevic-Zuniga Y, Tran AN, Saft L, Nilsson D, Syvänen AC, Lönnerholm G, Harila-Saari A, Nordenskjöld M, Heyman M, Nordgren A, Nordlund J, Barbany G. Overexpression of chromatin remodeling and tyrosine kinase genes in iAMP21-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2019; 61:604-613. [PMID: 31640433 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2019.1678153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21) is a cytogenetic subtype associated with relapse and poor prognosis in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP ALL). The biology behind the high relapse risk is unknown and the aim of this study was to further characterize the genomic and transcriptional landscape of iAMP21. Using DNA arrays and sequencing, we could identify rearrangements and aberrations characteristic for iAMP21. RNA sequencing revealed that only half of the genes in the minimal region of amplification (20/45) were differentially expressed in iAMP21. Among them were the top overexpressed genes (p < 0.001) in iAMP21 vs. BCP ALL without iAMP21 and three candidate genes could be identified, the tyrosine kinase gene DYRK1A and chromatin remodeling genes CHAF1B and SON. While overexpression of DYRK1A and CHAF1B is associated with poor prognosis in malignant diseases including myeloid leukemia, this is the first study to show significant correlation with iAMP21-positive ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingegerd Ivanov Öfverholm
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Fulya Taylan
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yanara Marincevic-Zuniga
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anh Nhi Tran
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leonie Saft
- Department of Pathology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel Nilsson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet Science Park, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ann-Christine Syvänen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gudmar Lönnerholm
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Arja Harila-Saari
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnus Nordenskjöld
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Heyman
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ann Nordgren
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gisela Barbany
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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29
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Campbell AE, Belleville AE, Resnick R, Shadle SC, Tapscott SJ. Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy: activating an early embryonic transcriptional program in human skeletal muscle. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:R153-R162. [PMID: 29718206 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is the third most prevalent muscular dystrophy. A progressive disease, it presents clinically as weakness and wasting of the face, shoulder and upper arm muscles, with later involvement of the trunk and lower extremities. FSHD develops through complex genetic and epigenetic events that converge on a common mechanism of toxicity with mis-expression of the transcription factor double homeobox 4 (DUX4). There is currently no treatment available for FSHD. However, the consensus that ectopic DUX4 expression in skeletal muscle is the root cause of FSHD pathophysiology has allowed research efforts to turn toward cultivating a deeper understanding of DUX4 biology and the pathways that underlie FSHD muscle pathology, and to translational studies aimed at developing targeted therapeutics using ever more sophisticated cell and animal-based models of FSHD. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of FSHD, including the regulation and activity of DUX4 in its normal developmental roles as well as its pathological contexts. We highlight how these advances raise new questions and challenges for the field as it moves into the next decade of FSHD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Campbell
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrea E Belleville
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rebecca Resnick
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sean C Shadle
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephen J Tapscott
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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30
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Hormann FM, Hoogkamer AQ, Beverloo HB, Boeree A, Dingjan I, Wattel MM, Stam RW, Escherich G, Pieters R, den Boer ML, Boer JM. NUTM1 is a recurrent fusion gene partner in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia associated with increased expression of genes on chromosome band 10p12.31-12.2. Haematologica 2019; 104:e455-e459. [PMID: 30872366 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.206961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Femke M Hormann
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Alex Q Hoogkamer
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - H Berna Beverloo
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Aurélie Boeree
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ilse Dingjan
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Moniek M Wattel
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald W Stam
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gabriele Escherich
- COALL - German Cooperative Study Group for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rob Pieters
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,DCOG - Dutch Childhood Oncology Group, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Monique L den Boer
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,DCOG - Dutch Childhood Oncology Group, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Judith M Boer
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands .,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Chiu R, Nip KM, Chu J, Birol I. TAP: a targeted clinical genomics pipeline for detecting transcript variants using RNA-seq data. BMC Med Genomics 2018; 11:79. [PMID: 30200994 PMCID: PMC6131862 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-018-0402-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA-seq is a powerful and cost-effective technology for molecular diagnostics of cancer and other diseases, and it can reach its full potential when coupled with validated clinical-grade informatics tools. Despite recent advances in long-read sequencing, transcriptome assembly of short reads remains a useful and cost-effective methodology for unveiling transcript-level rearrangements and novel isoforms. One of the major concerns for adopting the proven de novo assembly approach for RNA-seq data in clinical settings has been the analysis turnaround time. To address this concern, we have developed a targeted approach to expedite assembly and analysis of RNA-seq data. RESULTS Here we present our Targeted Assembly Pipeline (TAP), which consists of four stages: 1) alignment-free gene-level classification of RNA-seq reads using BioBloomTools, 2) de novo assembly of individual targets using Trans-ABySS, 3) alignment of assembled contigs to the reference genome and transcriptome with GMAP and BWA and 4) structural and splicing variant detection using PAVFinder. We show that PAVFinder is a robust gene fusion detection tool when compared to established methods such as Tophat-Fusion and deFuse on simulated data of 448 events. Using the Leucegene acute myeloid leukemia (AML) RNA-seq data and a set of 580 COSMIC target genes, TAP identified a wide range of hallmark molecular anomalies including gene fusions, tandem duplications, insertions and deletions in agreement with published literature results. Moreover, also in this dataset, TAP captured AML-specific splicing variants such as skipped exons and novel splice sites reported in studies elsewhere. Running time of TAP on 100-150 million read pairs and a 580-gene set is one to 2 hours on a 48-core machine. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that TAP is a fast and robust RNA-seq variant detection pipeline that is potentially amenable to clinical applications. TAP is available at http://www.bcgsc.ca/platform/bioinfo/software/pavfinder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Readman Chiu
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, 100-570 West 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Ka Ming Nip
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, 100-570 West 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Justin Chu
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, 100-570 West 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Inanc Birol
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, 100-570 West 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4S6, Canada. .,Department of Medical Genetics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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32
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Nordlund J, Syvänen AC. Epigenetics in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 51:129-138. [PMID: 28887175 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children. ALL arises from the malignant transformation of progenitor B- and T-cells in the bone marrow into leukemic cells, but the mechanisms underlying this transformation are not well understood. Recent technical advances and decreasing costs of methods for high-throughput DNA sequencing and SNP genotyping have stimulated systematic studies of the epigenetic changes in leukemic cells from pediatric ALL patients. The results emerging from these studies are increasing our understanding of the epigenetic component of leukemogenesis and have demonstrated the potential of DNA methylation as a biomarker for lineage and subtype classification, prognostication, and disease progression in ALL. In this review, we provide a concise examination of the epigenetic studies in ALL, with a focus on DNA methylation and mutations perturbing genes involved in chromatin modification, and discuss the future role of epigenetic analyses in research and clinical management of ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden.
| | - Ann-Christine Syvänen
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
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