Long-term remission of therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia with a new t(11;18)(q23;q21.2) translocation and KMT2A-ME2 (MLL-ME2) fusion gene

We describe a unique case of a woman with acute myeloid leukemia with a new, previously undescribed translocation, t(11;18)(q23;q21.2), affecting the KMT2A (MLL) gene and resulting in an KMT2A(MLL)-ME2 fusion. This disease occurred secondarily following chemotherapy for a different acute myeloid leukemia with the recurrent genetic abnormality inv(16)(p13.1;q22). The secondary leukemia was treated with intensive chemotherapy without allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Complete remission lasting more than 10 years has been achieved with concurrent and sustained remission of the primary leukemia.

HMGA2 as a potential molecular target in KMT2A-AFF1-positive infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in infants is an intractable cancer in childhood. Although recent intensive chemotherapy progress has considerably improved ALL treatment outcome, disease cure is often accompanied by undesirable long-term side effects, and efficient, less toxic molecular targeting therapies have been anticipated. In infant ALL cells with KMT2A (MLL) fusion, the microRNA let-7b (MIRLET7B) is significantly downregulated by DNA hypermethylation of its promoter region. We show here that the expression of HMGA2, one of the oncogenes repressed by MIRLET7B, is reversely upregulated in infant ALL leukaemic cells, particularly in KMT2A-AFF1 (MLL-AF4) positive ALL. In addition to the suppression of MIRLET7B, KMT2A fusion proteins positively regulate the expression of HMGA2. HMGA2 is one of the negative regulators of CDKN2A gene, which encodes the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16(INK4A) . The HMGA2 inhibitor netropsin, when combined with demethylating agent 5-azacytidine, upregulated and sustained the expression of CDKN2A, which resulted in growth suppression of KMT2A-AFF1-expressing cell lines. This effect was more apparent compared to treatment with 5-azacytidine alone. These results indicate that the MIRLET7B-HMGA2-CDKN2A axis plays an important role in cell proliferation of leukaemic cells and could be a possible molecular target for the therapy of infant ALL with KMT2A-AFF1.

A de novo Mutation in KMT2A (MLL) in monozygotic twins with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome

Growth deficiency, psychomotor delay, and facial dysmorphism was originally described in a male patient in 1989 by Wiedemann et al. and later in 2000 by Steiner et al. Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) has since been described only a few times in the literature, with the phenotypic spectrum both expanding and becoming more delineated with each patient reported. We report on the clinical and molecular features of monozygotic twins with a de novo mutation in KMT2A. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray was done on both twins and whole-exome sequencing was done using both parents and one of the affected twins. SNP microarray confirmed that they were monozygotic twins. A de novo heterozygous variant (p. Arg1083*) in the KMT2A gene was identified through whole-exome sequencing, confirming the diagnosis of WSS. In this study, we have identified a de novo mutation in KMT2A associated with psychomotor developmental delay, facial dysmorphism, short stature, hypertrichosis cubiti, and small kidneys. This finding in monozygotic twins gives specificity to the WSS. The description of more cases of WSS is needed for further delineation of this condition. Small kidneys with normal function have not been described in this condition in the medical literature before.

Delineation of clinical features in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome caused by KMT2A mutations

Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is an autosomal dominant congenital anomaly syndrome characterized by hairy elbows, dysmorphic facial appearances (hypertelorism, thick eyebrows, downslanted and vertically narrow palpebral fissures), pre- and post-natal growth deficiency, and psychomotor delay. WSS is caused by heterozygous mutations in KMT2A (also known as MLL), a gene encoding a histone methyltransferase. Here, we identify six novel KMT2A mutations in six WSS patients, with four mutations occurring de novo. Interestingly, some of the patients were initially diagnosed with atypical Kabuki syndrome, which is caused by mutations in KMT2D or KDM6A, genes also involved in histone methylation. KMT2A mutations and clinical features are summarized in our six patients together with eight previously reported patients. Furthermore, clinical comparison of the two syndromes is discussed in detail.

Advanced bone age in a girl with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome and an exonic deletion in KMT2A (MLL)

Recognition of the gene implicated in a Mendelian disorder subsequently leads to an expansion of potential phenotypes associated with mutations in that gene as patients with features beyond the core phenotype are identified by sequencing. Here, we present a young girl with developmental delay, short stature despite a markedly advanced bone age, hypertrichosis without elbow hair, renal anomalies, and dysmorphic facial features, found to have a heterozygous, de novo, intragenic deletion encompassing exons 2-10 of the KMT2A (MLL) gene detected by whole exome sequencing. Heterozygous mutations in this gene were recently demonstrated to cause Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (OMIM 605130). Importantly, retrospective analysis of this patient's chromosomal microarray revealed decreased copy number of two probes corresponding to exons 2 and 9 of the KMT2A gene, though this result was not reported by the testing laboratory in keeping with standard protocols for reportable size cutoffs for array comparative genomic hybridization. This patient expands the clinical phenotype associated with mutations in KMT2A to include variable patterns of hypertrichosis and a significantly advanced bone age with premature eruption of the secondary dentition despite her growth retardation. This patient also represents the first report of Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome due to an exonic deletion, supporting haploinsufficiency as a causative mechanism. Our patient also illustrates the need for sensitive guidelines for the reporting of chromosomal microarray findings that are below traditional reporting size cutoffs, but that impact exons or other genomic regions of known function.