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Gray ZH, Chakraborty D, Duttweiler RR, Alekbaeva GD, Murphy SE, Chetal K, Ji F, Ferman BI, Honer MA, Wang Z, Myers C, Sun R, Kaniskan HÜ, Toma MM, Bondarenko EA, Santoro JN, Miranda C, Dillingham ME, Tang R, Gozani O, Jin J, Skorski T, Duy C, Lee H, Sadreyev RI, Whetstine JR. Epigenetic balance ensures mechanistic control of MLL amplification and rearrangement. Cell 2023; 186:4528-4545.e18. [PMID: 37788669 PMCID: PMC10591855 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
MLL/KMT2A amplifications and translocations are prevalent in infant, adult, and therapy-induced leukemia. However, the molecular contributor(s) to these alterations are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that histone H3 lysine 9 mono- and di-methylation (H3K9me1/2) balance at the MLL/KMT2A locus regulates these amplifications and rearrangements. This balance is controlled by the crosstalk between lysine demethylase KDM3B and methyltransferase G9a/EHMT2. KDM3B depletion increases H3K9me1/2 levels and reduces CTCF occupancy at the MLL/KMT2A locus, in turn promoting amplification and rearrangements. Depleting CTCF is also sufficient to generate these focal alterations. Furthermore, the chemotherapy doxorubicin (Dox), which associates with therapy-induced leukemia and promotes MLL/KMT2A amplifications and rearrangements, suppresses KDM3B and CTCF protein levels. KDM3B and CTCF overexpression rescues Dox-induced MLL/KMT2A alterations. G9a inhibition in human cells or mice also suppresses MLL/KMT2A events accompanying Dox treatment. Therefore, MLL/KMT2A amplifications and rearrangements are controlled by epigenetic regulators that are tractable drug targets, which has clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach H Gray
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Damayanti Chakraborty
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Reuben R Duttweiler
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Gulnaz D Alekbaeva
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Sedona E Murphy
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Kashish Chetal
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Fei Ji
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Benjamin I Ferman
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Madison A Honer
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Zhentian Wang
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cynthia Myers
- Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Renhong Sun
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Monika Maria Toma
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, 3420 N. Broad Street, MRB 548, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Elena A Bondarenko
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - John N Santoro
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Christopher Miranda
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Megan E Dillingham
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Ran Tang
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, 150000 Harbin, China
| | - Or Gozani
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Tomasz Skorski
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, 3420 N. Broad Street, MRB 548, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Cihangir Duy
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Hayan Lee
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Ruslan I Sadreyev
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Johnathan R Whetstine
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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Yang H, Huang S, Zhu CY, Gao L, Zhu HY, Lv N, Jing Y, Yu L. The Superiority of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Over Chemotherapy Alone in the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients with Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) Rearrangements. Med Sci Monit 2016; 22:2315-23. [PMID: 27373985 PMCID: PMC4941891 DOI: 10.12659/msm.899186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements always had a very poor prognosis. In this study, we report the incidence of MLL rearrangements in AML patients using gene analysis, as well as the clinical significance and prognostic features of these rearrangements. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study took place from April 2008 to November 2011 in the People's Liberation Army General Hospital. A total 433 AML patients were screened by multiple nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine the incidence of the 11 MLL gene rearrangements. There were 68 cases of MLL gene rearrangements, for a positive rate of 15.7%. A total of 24 patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT), and 34 patients received at least 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Ten patients were lost to follow-up. RESULTS The median follow-up was 29 months. The complete remission (CR) rate was 85.4%. The overall survival (OS) was 57.4±5.9 months for the Allo-HSCT group and 21.0±2.1 months for the chemotherapy group. The Allo-HSCT group had superior survival compared with the chemotherapy group (5-year OS: 59±17% vs. 13±8%, P<0.01; 5-year disease-free survival [DFS]: 65±10% vs. 40±16%, P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that transplantation, platelets >50×10^9/L at onset, and CR are associated with a better OS in MLL rearranged AML patients. Patients with thrombocytopenia and extramedullary involvement were prone to relapse. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that Allo-HSCT is superior to chemotherapy alone for treating MLL rearranged AML patients. Patients treated with Allo-HSCT have a better prognosis and a longer survival. CR is an independent prognostic factor for OS, and extramedullary involvement is an independent prognostic factor for DFS. MLL rearranged AML patients with thrombocytopenia at onset <50×10^9 had very bad OS and DFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yang
- Department of Hematology and BMT, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Sai Huang
- Department of Hematology and BMT, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Cheng-Ying Zhu
- Department of Hematology and BMT, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Li Gao
- Department of Hematology and BMT, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Hai-Yan Zhu
- Department of Hematology and BMT, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Na Lv
- Department of Hematology and BMT, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Yu Jing
- Department of Hematology and BMT, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Hematology and BMT, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
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Cao L, Wang N, Pan J, Hu S, Zhao W, He H, Wang Y, Gu G, Chai Y. Clinical significance of microRNA-34b expression in pediatric acute leukemia. Mol Med Rep 2016; 13:2777-84. [PMID: 26861642 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.4876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the function of miR‑34b promoter methylation in cell proliferation in children's acute leukemia. Quantitative PCR and methylation‑specific PCR were performed to measure the levels of miR‑34b and its promoter methylation in normal cells, eight leukemia cell lines as well as primary leukemic cells isolated from patients newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and mixed lymphocytic lymphoma. miR‑34b levels in leukemia cell lines and primary leukemic cells were significantly lower than those in normal cells. The miR‑34b promoter was found to be methylated in all leukemia cell lines, 24 of 31 ALL patients and 8 of 19 AML patients, but not in the 23 normal controls. miR‑34b expression and methylation of its promoter were not associated with most clinical parameters assessed; however, miR‑34b levels in prednisone‑sensitive ALL were significantly different from those in insensitive ALL. A cell counting kit‑8 assay showed that transfection of miR‑34b mimics into K562 cells inhibited their proliferation. Furthermore, treatment with the demethylating agent 5‑aza‑2‑deoxycytidine significantly enhanced miR‑34b expression levels and decreased the methylation status of its promoter in HL‑60 and K562 cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that in pediatric leukemia cells and leukemia cell lines, the expression of miR‑34b is inhibited by methylation of its promoter, which impairs the restraining effects of miR‑34b on cell proliferation. It was also indicated that the expression of miR‑34b in ALL patients may affect their response to early treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Cao
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
| | - Na Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
| | - Jian Pan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
| | - Shaoyan Hu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
| | - Wenli Zhao
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
| | - Hailong He
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
| | - Guixiong Gu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
| | - Yihuan Chai
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, P.R. China
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Braekeleer ED, Douet-Guilbert N, Basinko A, Bris MJL, Morel F, Braekeleer MD. Hox gene dysregulation in acute myeloid leukemia. Future Oncol 2014; 10:475-95. [DOI: 10.2217/fon.13.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT: In humans, class I homeobox genes (HOX genes) are distributed in four clusters. Upstream regulators include transcriptional activators and members of the CDX family of transcription factors. HOX genes encode proteins and need cofactor interactions, to increase their specificity and selectivity. HOX genes contribute to the organization and regulation of hematopoiesis by controlling the balance between proliferation and differentiation. Changes in HOX gene expression can be associated with chromosomal rearrangements generating fusion genes, such as those involving MLL and NUP98, or molecular defects, such as mutations in NPM1 and CEBPA for example. Several miRNAs are involved in the control of HOX gene expression and their expression correlates with HOX gene dysregulation. HOX genes dysregulation is a dominant mechanism of leukemic transformation. A better knowledge of their target genes and the mechanisms by which their dysregulated expression contributes to leukemogenesis could lead to the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne De Braekeleer
- Laboratoire d’Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Brest, Brest, France
| | - Nathalie Douet-Guilbert
- Laboratoire d’Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Brest, Brest, France
| | - Audrey Basinko
- Laboratoire d’Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Brest, Brest, France
| | - Marie-Josée Le Bris
- Service de Cytogénétique, Cytologie et Biologie de la Reproduction, Hôpital Morvan, CHRU Brest, Brest, France
| | - Frédéric Morel
- Laboratoire d’Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Brest, Brest, France
| | - Marc De Braekeleer
- Laboratoire d’Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Brest, Brest, France
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7
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Arnaud B, Douet-Guilbert N, Morel F, Le Bris MJ, Herry A, Banzakour S, Bourquard P, Morice P, Le Calvez G, Marion V, Abgrall JF, Berthou C, De Braekeleer M. Screening by fluorescence in situ hybridization for MLL status at diagnosis in 239 unselected patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 161:110-5. [PMID: 16102580 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergencyto.2005.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2004] [Revised: 01/24/2005] [Accepted: 02/01/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A large number of abnormalities involving the MLL gene have been associated with hematological malignancies, including acute myeloblastic leukemias (AML). Given the overall unfavorable prognosis of AML with an MLL abnormality, its reliable and accurate detection is needed for informed treatment decision. We therefore investigated the occurrence of MLL abnormalities in 239 unselected consecutive AML patients, using conventional cytogenetic and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses. FISH analysis for MLL was performed using a commercial dual-color probe. Of the 239 patients, 30 (12.6%) showed MLL abnormalities under FISH analysis, 10 (4.2%) showed a split signal indicating the disruption of the MLL gene by translocation or insertion, and 20 (8.4%) showed overrepresentation of the MLL gene without evidence of rearrangement. MLL abnormalities were more frequently found in AML-M5 and M4, mainly as rearrangements, and in AML-M2, mainly as overrepresentation. Our results are in agreement with those reported in other studies. All M2, M4, and M5 AML patients without known recurrent translocations, such as t(8;21) and inv(16), should be investigated by FISH with an MLL probe because it allows the detection of MLL rearrangement that would go undetected by conventional cytogenetics and because it has the ability of detecting multiple copies of the MLL gene in, for example, marker chromosomes and double minutes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Arnaud
- Laboratoire d'Histologie, Embryologie et Cytogénétique, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, 22, avenue Camille Desmoulins, CS 93837, F-29238 Brest cedex 3, France
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