The added values of multiplex reverse transcriptase-PCR followed by mutation screening in the initial evaluation of acute leukemia

ELN 2017 Genetic Risk Stratification Predicts Survival of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Receiving Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

European LeukemiaNet (ELN) 2017 risk stratification by genetics is prognostic of outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the prognostic impact of the 2017 ELN genetic risk stratification after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is not well established. We examined the effect of 2017 ELN genetic risk stratification on alloHCT outcomes of AML. We included 500 adult (≥18 years) AML patients in first (n = 370) or second (n = 130) complete remission receiving alloHCT from 2005 to 2016. Patients were classified into favorable (12%), intermediate (57%), and adverse (32%) 2017 ELN risk groups. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to conduct the multivariable analyses of leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS). Relapse and nonrelapse mortality were analyzed by the Fine-Gray regression model. OS at 2 years was 72% in the favorable versus 60% in the intermediate versus 45% in the adverse risk groups (P < .001). In multivariable analyses, the 2017 ELN classifier was an independent predictor of OS after alloHCT with significantly higher overall mortality in the intermediate (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.68; P = .03) and adverse (HR = 2.50, 95% CI, 1.54-4.06; P < .001) risk groups compared to the favorable risk group. Similarly, LFS was worse in the intermediate (HR = 1.63, 95%, CI 1.06-2.53; P = .03) and adverse (HR 2.23, 95% CI, 1.41-3.54; P < .001) risk groups while relapse was higher in the adverse risk group (HR = 2.36, 95% CI, 1.28-4.35; P = .006) as compared to the favorable risk group. These data highlight the prognostic impact of the 2017 ELN genetic risk stratification on the survival of AML patients after alloHCT. Patients in the adverse risk group had the highest risk of relapse and worst survival. Thus the 2017 ELN prognostic system can help identify AML patients who may benefit from clinical trials offering relapse mitigation strategies to improve transplant outcomes.

Clinical characterization and prognosis of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with high CRLF2 gene expression in children

It has been reported that overexpression of the CRLF2 gene is associated with poor outcomes in pediatric B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), but the incidence rates, clinical characteristics and outcomes of CRLF2 gene overexpression in pediatric T cell ALL (T-ALL) have not been systematically analyzed. In this study, CRLF2 mRNA expression levels and clinical and laboratory parameters in 63 pediatric T-ALL patients were detected at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Children’s Hospital of Xianyang between February 2015 and June 2018. The patients were treated according to the modified St. Jude TXV ALL protocol, and early treatment responses (bone marrow smear and MRD level) and prognoses in the enrolled patients were assessed. CRLF2 overexpression was detected in 21/63 (33.33%) patients. Statistical differences were not found for clinical or laboratory parameters (including sex, age, initial WBC count, incidence mediastinal involvement, abnormal karyotype and fusion genes) between patients with high CRLF2 expression and patients with low expression of CRLF2 (P>0.05). One patient died of tumor lysis syndrome and renal failure, and the treatment response was monitored on day 19 (TP1) of remission in 62 patients. One patient quit treatment because of family decisions, and 61 patients underwent treatment response evaluation on day 46 (TP2) of remission. Significant differences were not found between patients with high CRLF2 expression and patients with low CRLF2 expression in terms of the treatment responses at TP1 or TP2 (P>0.05). Following October 2018, 12 patients among the 61 evaluable patients relapsed (relapse rate: 19.67%), 3 patients died from chemotherapy, and the treatment-related mortality (TRM) rate was 4.92%. Secondary tumors occurred in 1 patient. The 3-year prospective EFS rate was 54.1±11.2% and 77.7±6.6% for the 61 evaluable patients and 58 patients without TRM. Patients with low CRLF2 expression had longer EFS durations than patients with high CRLF2 expression (61 evaluable patients: 35.91± 2.38 months vs 23.43± 2.57 months; 58 patients without TRM: 37.86± 2.08 months vs 24.55±2.43 months, P<0.05). CRLF2 expression levels were also monitored in 13 patients at TP1 and TP2, and the MRD level did not vary with the CRLF2 expression level. Our data suggest that clinical features, laboratory findings and treatment responses in the pediatric T-ALL population do not vary based on the overexpression of CRLF2 but that CRLF2 overexpression can contribute to a high risk of relapse in pediatric T-ALL. Thus, CRLF2 expression levels should not be used as biomarkers for monitoring MRD.