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Panagopoulos I, Andersen K, Stavseth V, Torkildsen S, Heim S, Tandsæther MR. Germline MYOF1::WNK4 and VPS25::MYOF1 Chimeras Generated by the Constitutional Translocation t(17;19)(q21;p13) in Two Siblings With Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2024; 21:272-284. [PMID: 38670586 PMCID: PMC11059592 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20446] [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: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Constitutional chromosomal aberrations are rare in hematologic malignancies and their pathogenetic role is mostly poorly understood. We present a comprehensive molecular characterization of a novel constitutional chromosomal translocation found in two siblings - sisters - diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Bone marrow and blood cells from the two patients were examined using G-banding, RNA sequencing, PCR, and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS We identified a balanced t(17;19)(q21;p13) translocation in both siblings' bone marrow, blood cells, and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes. The translocation generated a MYO1F::WNK4 chimera on the der(19)t(17;19), encoding a chimeric serine/threonine kinase, and a VPS25::MYO1F on the der(17), potentially resulting in an aberrant VPS25 protein. CONCLUSION The t(17;19)(q21;p13) translocation found in the two sisters probably predisposed them to myelodysplasia. How the MYO1F::WNK4 and/or VPS25::MYO1F chimeras, perhaps especially MYO1F::WNK4 that encodes a chimeric serine/threonine kinase, played a role in MDS pathogenesis, remains incompletely understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Panagopoulos
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway;
| | - Kristin Andersen
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vidar Stavseth
- Department of Haematology, Levanger Hospital, Levanger, Norway
| | - Synne Torkildsen
- Department of Haematology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sverre Heim
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maren Randi Tandsæther
- Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Kanagal-Shamanna R, Schafernak KT, Calvo KR. Diagnostic work-up of hematological malignancies with underlying germline predisposition disorders (GPD). Semin Diagn Pathol 2023; 40:443-456. [PMID: 37977953 DOI: 10.1053/j.semdp.2023.11.004] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Hematological malignancies with underlying germline predisposition disorders have been recognized by the World Health Organization 5th edition and International Consensus Classification (ICC) classification systems. The list of genes and the associated phenotypes are expanding and involve both pediatric and adult populations. While the clinical presentation and underlying molecular pathogenesis are relatively well described, the knowledge regarding the bone marrow morphologic features, the landscape of somatic aberrations associated with progression to hematological malignancies is limited. These pose challenges in the diagnosis of low-grade myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to hematopathologists which carries direct implication for various aspects of clinical management of the patient, donor selection for transplantation, and family members. Here in, we provide a focused review on the diagnostic work-up of hematological malignancies with underlying germline predisposition disorders with emphasis on the spectrum of hematological malignancies associated with each entity, and characteristic bone marrow morphologic, somatic cytogenetic and molecular alterations at the time of diagnosis of hematological malignancies. We also review the key clinical, morphologic, and molecular features, that should initiate screening for these entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kristian T Schafernak
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Katherine R Calvo
- Hematology Section, Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, United States.
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3
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Zoller J, Trajanova D, Feurstein S. Germline and somatic drivers in inherited hematologic malignancies. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1205855. [PMID: 37904876 PMCID: PMC10613526 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1205855] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited hematologic malignancies are linked to a heterogenous group of genes, knowledge of which is rapidly expanding using panel-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) or whole-exome/whole-genome sequencing. Importantly, the penetrance for these syndromes is incomplete, and disease development, progression or transformation has critical clinical implications. With the earlier detection of healthy carriers and sequential monitoring of these patients, clonal hematopoiesis and somatic driver variants become significant factors in determining disease transformation/progression and timing of (preemptive) hematopoietic stem cell transplant in these patients. In this review, we shed light on the detection of probable germline predisposition alleles based on diagnostic/prognostic 'somatic' NGS panels. A multi-tier approach including variant allele frequency, bi-allelic inactivation, persistence of a variant upon clinical remission and mutational burden can indicate variants with high pre-test probability. We also discuss the shared underlying biology and frequency of germline and somatic variants affecting the same gene, specifically focusing on variants in DDX41, ETV6, GATA2 and RUNX1. Germline variants in these genes are associated with a (specific) pattern or over-/underrepresentation of somatic molecular or cytogenetic alterations that may help identify the underlying germline syndrome and predict the course of disease in these individuals. This review is based on the current knowledge about somatic drivers in these four syndromes by integrating data from all published patients, thereby providing clinicians with valuable and concise information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Simone Feurstein
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology, Oncology & Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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4
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Zerella JR, Homan CC, Arts P, Brown AL, Scott HS, Hahn CN. Transcription factor genetics and biology in predisposition to bone marrow failure and hematological malignancy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1183318. [PMID: 37377909 PMCID: PMC10291195 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1183318] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) play a critical role as key mediators of a multitude of developmental pathways, with highly regulated and tightly organized networks crucial for determining both the timing and pattern of tissue development. TFs can act as master regulators of both primitive and definitive hematopoiesis, tightly controlling the behavior of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). These networks control the functional regulation of HSPCs including self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation dynamics, which are essential to normal hematopoiesis. Defining the key players and dynamics of these hematopoietic transcriptional networks is essential to understanding both normal hematopoiesis and how genetic aberrations in TFs and their networks can predispose to hematopoietic disease including bone marrow failure (BMF) and hematological malignancy (HM). Despite their multifaceted and complex involvement in hematological development, advances in genetic screening along with elegant multi-omics and model system studies are shedding light on how hematopoietic TFs interact and network to achieve normal cell fates and their role in disease etiology. This review focuses on TFs which predispose to BMF and HM, identifies potential novel candidate predisposing TF genes, and examines putative biological mechanisms leading to these phenotypes. A better understanding of the genetics and molecular biology of hematopoietic TFs, as well as identifying novel genes and genetic variants predisposing to BMF and HM, will accelerate the development of preventative strategies, improve clinical management and counseling, and help define targeted treatments for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarna R. Zerella
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Claire C. Homan
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Peer Arts
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Anna L. Brown
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Hamish S. Scott
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Christopher N. Hahn
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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5
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Functional damaging germline variants in ETV6, IKZF1, PAX5 and RUNX1 predisposing to B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Eur J Med Genet 2023; 66:104725. [PMID: 36764385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2023.104725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent genome-wide studies have demonstrated that a significant proportion of children with cancer carry predisposing germline variants, with varying incidence according to cancer type. In general, there is a lower incidence of underlying germline predisposing variants among patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) compared to other types of cancer, but higher rates may be found in patients with specific leukemia subtypes. Two categories of ALL-predisposing variants have been described: common polymorphisms, conferring low-penetrance ALL susceptibility, and rare variants, conferring high-penetrance ALL susceptibility. Variants in genes encoding hematopoietic transcription factors are an example of the latter, and include ETV6, IKZF1, PAX5 and RUNX1. Here, we present an overview of the germline variants detected in patients with B-ALL in these four genes and a summary of functional studies analyzing the impacts of these variants upon protein function, and hence their effects with regard to leukemia predisposition. Furthermore, we review specific clinical characteristics of patients with B-ALL, including specific features of the patient or family history and associated somatic genetic characteristics, which are suggestive of underlying germline alterations in one of these genes. This review may be of assistance in the interpretation of patient genetic germline findings, made even more challenging by the absence of a suggestive family history or by an unknown familial cancer history. Despite a low incidence of underlying germline alterations in ETV6, IKZF1, PAX5 and RUNX1 in patients with B-ALL, identification of an underlying ALL predisposition syndrome is relevant to the clinical management of patients and their relatives, as the latter are also at risk of developing cancer.
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6
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Standing S, Tran S, Murguia-Favela L, Kovalchuk O, Bose P, Narendran A. Identification of Altered Primary Immunodeficiency-Associated Genes and Their Implications in Pediatric Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235942. [PMID: 36497424 PMCID: PMC9741011 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235942] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related mortality in children and malignancies are more frequently observed in individuals with primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs). This study aimed to identify and highlight the molecular mechanisms, such as oncogenesis and immune evasion, by which PID-related genes may lead to the development of pediatric cancers. METHOD We implemented a novel bioinformatics framework using patient data from the TARGET database and performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of PID-related genes in pediatric cancers between normal and cancer tissues, gene ontology enrichment, and protein-protein interaction analyses, and determined the prognostic impacts of commonly mutated and differentially expressed PID-related genes. RESULTS From the Fulgent Genetics Comprehensive Primary Immunodeficiency panel of 472 PID-related genes, 89 genes were significantly differentially expressed between normal and cancer tissues, and 20 genes were mutated in two or more patients. Enrichment analysis highlighted many immune system processes as well as additional pathways in the mutated PID-related genes related to oncogenesis. Survival outcomes for patients with altered PID-related genes were significantly different for 75 of the 89 DEGs, often resulting in a poorer prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Overall, multiple PID-related genes demonstrated the connection between PIDs and cancer development and should be studied further, with hopes of identifying new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaelene Standing
- Section of Pediatric Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Division of Pediatrics, Alberta Children’s Hospital and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Son Tran
- Section of Pediatric Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Division of Pediatrics, Alberta Children’s Hospital and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Luis Murguia-Favela
- Section of Pediatric Hematology and Immunology, Division of Pediatrics, Alberta Children’s Hospital and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada
| | - Olga Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Pinaki Bose
- Departments of Oncology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Correspondence: (P.B.); (A.N.)
| | - Aru Narendran
- Section of Pediatric Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Division of Pediatrics, Alberta Children’s Hospital and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada
- Correspondence: (P.B.); (A.N.)
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7
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Bang B, Eisfeldt J, Barbany G, Harila-Saari A, Heyman M, Zachariadis V, Taylan F, Nordgren A. A somatic UBA2 variant preceded ETV6-RUNX1 in the concordant BCP-ALL of monozygotic twins. Blood Adv 2022; 6:2275-2289. [PMID: 34982829 PMCID: PMC9006272 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic analysis of leukemic clones in monozygotic twins with concordant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has proved a unique opportunity to gain insight into the molecular phylogenetics of leukemogenesis. Using whole-genome sequencing, we characterized constitutional and somatic single nucleotide variants/insertion-deletions (indels) and structural variants in a monozygotic twin pair with concordant ETV6-RUNX1+ B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL). In addition, digital PCR (dPCR) was applied to evaluate the presence of and quantify selected somatic variants at birth, diagnosis, and remission. A shared somatic complex rearrangement involving chromosomes 11, 12, and 21 with identical fusion sequences in leukemias of both twins offered direct proof of a common clonal origin. The ETV6-RUNX1 fusion detected at diagnosis was found to originate from this complex rearrangement. A shared somatic frameshift deletion in UBA2 was also identified in diagnostic samples. In addition, each leukemia independently acquired analogous deletions of 3 genes recurrently targeted in BCP-ALLs (ETV6, ATF7IP, and RAG1/RAG2), providing evidence of a convergent clonal evolution only explained by a strong concurrent selective pressure. Quantification of the UBA2 deletion by dPCR surprisingly indicated it persisted in remission. This, for the first time to our knowledge, provided evidence of a UBA2 variant preceding the well-established initiating event ETV6-RUNX1. Further, we suggest the UBA2 deletion exerted a leukemia predisposing effect and that its essential role in Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) attachment (SUMOylation), regulating nearly all physiological and pathological cellular processes such as DNA-repair by nonhomologous end joining, may hold a mechanistic explanation for the predisposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedicte Bang
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jesper Eisfeldt
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gisela Barbany
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arja Harila-Saari
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mats Heyman
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | - Vasilios Zachariadis
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Centre Karolinska (CCK), Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fulya Taylan
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ann Nordgren
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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In Utero Development and Immunosurveillance of B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2022; 23:543-561. [PMID: 35294722 PMCID: PMC8924576 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-022-00963-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent type of pediatric cancer with a peak incidence at 2–5 years of age. ALL frequently begins in utero with the emergence of clinically silent, preleukemic cells. Underlying leukemia-predisposing germline and acquired somatic mutations define distinct ALL subtypes that vary dramatically in treatment outcomes. In addition to genetic predisposition, a second hit, which usually occurs postnatally, is required for development of overt leukemia in most ALL subtypes. An untrained, dysregulated immune response, possibly due to an abnormal response to infection, may be an important co-factor triggering the onset of leukemia. Furthermore, the involvement of natural killer (NK) cells and T helper (Th) cells in controlling the preleukemic cells has been discussed. Identifying the cell of origin of the preleukemia-initiating event might give additional insights into potential options for prevention. Modulation of the immune system to achieve prolonged immunosurveillance of the preleukemic clone that eventually dies out in later years might present a future directive. Herein, we review the concepts of prenatal origin as well as potential preventive approaches to pediatric B cell precursor (BCP) ALL.
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9
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Klco JM, Mullighan CG. Advances in germline predisposition to acute leukaemias and myeloid neoplasms. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:122-137. [PMID: 33328584 PMCID: PMC8404376 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-00315-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although much work has focused on the elucidation of somatic alterations that drive the development of acute leukaemias and other haematopoietic diseases, it has become increasingly recognized that germline mutations are common in many of these neoplasms. In this Review, we highlight the different genetic pathways impacted by germline mutations that can ultimately lead to the development of familial and sporadic haematological malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Many of the genes disrupted by somatic mutations in these diseases (for example, TP53, RUNX1, IKZF1 and ETV6) are the same as those that harbour germline mutations in children and adolescents who develop these malignancies. Moreover, the presumption that familial leukaemias only present in childhood is no longer true, in large part due to the numerous studies demonstrating germline DDX41 mutations in adults with MDS and AML. Lastly, we highlight how different cooperating events can influence the ultimate phenotype in these different familial leukaemia syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffery M Klco
- Department of Pathology and the Hematological Malignancies Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Charles G Mullighan
- Department of Pathology and the Hematological Malignancies Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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10
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Nishii R, Baskin-Doerfler R, Yang W, Oak N, Zhao X, Yang W, Hoshitsuki K, Bloom M, Verbist K, Burns M, Li Z, Lin TN, Qian M, Moriyama T, Gastier-Foster JM, Rabin KR, Raetz E, Mullighan C, Pui CH, Yeoh AEJ, Zhang J, Metzger ML, Klco JM, Hunger SP, Newman S, Wu G, Loh ML, Nichols KE, Yang JJ. Molecular basis of ETV6-mediated predisposition to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood 2021; 137:364-373. [PMID: 32693409 PMCID: PMC7819760 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020006164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence supporting an inherited basis for susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. In particular, we and others reported recurrent germline ETV6 variants linked to ALL risk, which collectively represent a novel leukemia predisposition syndrome. To understand the influence of ETV6 variation on ALL pathogenesis, we comprehensively characterized a cohort of 32 childhood leukemia cases arising from this rare syndrome. Of 34 nonsynonymous germline ETV6 variants in ALL, we identified 22 variants with impaired transcription repressor activity, loss of DNA binding, and altered nuclear localization. Missense variants retained dimerization with wild-type ETV6 with potentially dominant-negative effects. Whole-transcriptome and whole-genome sequencing of this cohort of leukemia cases revealed a profound influence of germline ETV6 variants on leukemia transcriptional landscape, with distinct ALL subsets invoking unique patterns of somatic cooperating mutations. 70% of ALL cases with damaging germline ETV6 variants exhibited hyperdiploid karyotype with characteristic recurrent mutations in NRAS, KRAS, and PTPN11. In contrast, the remaining 30% cases had a diploid leukemia genome and an exceedingly high frequency of somatic copy-number loss of PAX5 and ETV6, with a gene expression pattern that strikingly mirrored that of ALL with somatic ETV6-RUNX1 fusion. Two ETV6 germline variants gave rise to both acute myeloid leukemia and ALL, with lineage-specific genetic lesions in the leukemia genomes. ETV6 variants compromise its tumor suppressor activity in vitro with specific molecular targets identified by assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing profiling. ETV6-mediated ALL predisposition exemplifies the intricate interactions between inherited and acquired genomic variations in leukemia pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ninad Oak
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Xujie Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and
| | | | | | - Mackenzie Bloom
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Katherine Verbist
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Melissa Burns
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Maoxiang Qian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Julie M Gastier-Foster
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
- Department of Pathology and
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Karen R Rabin
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Elizabeth Raetz
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Charles Mullighan
- Department of Pathology and
- Hematological Malignancies Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Ching-Hon Pui
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- Hematological Malignancies Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Allen Eng-Juh Yeoh
- Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- VIVA-NUS Center for Translational Research in Acute Leukaemia, Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Monika L Metzger
- Hematological Malignancies Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jeffery M Klco
- Department of Pathology and
- Hematological Malignancies Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Stephen P Hunger
- Department of Pediatrics and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Gang Wu
- Department of Computational Biology and
| | - Mignon L Loh
- Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA; and
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Kim E Nichols
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- Hematological Malignancies Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jun J Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- Hematological Malignancies Program, Comprehensive Cancer Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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11
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Abstract
Genomic analyses have revolutionized our understanding of the biology of B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Studies of thousands of cases across the age spectrum have revised the taxonomy of B-ALL by identifying multiple new subgroups with diverse sequence and structural initiating events that vary substantially by age at diagnosis and prognostic significance. There is a growing appreciation of the role of inherited genetic variation in predisposition to ALL and drug responsiveness and of the nature of genetic variegation and clonal evolution that may be targeted for improved diagnostic, risk stratification, disease monitoring, and therapeutic intervention. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of the genetic basis of B-ALL, with an emphasis on recent discoveries that have changed our approach to diagnosis and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn G Roberts
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Charles G Mullighan
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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