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Chaudhary N, Rahman K, Gupta P, Gupta R, Sarkar MK, Singh MK, Chandra D, Kumar S, Kashyap R. Peripheral blood quantitation of CD26 positive leukemic stem cells as a predictor of tyrosine kinase inhibitor response in chronic myeloid leukemia. Int J Lab Hematol 2024. [PMID: 38711332 DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.14301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) are the transcriptionally low/silent cells which are resistant to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor. These have been found to play a pivotal role in disease relapse in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cases. The present study evaluated the correlation of absolute CML-LSC count in the peripheral blood (PB) at diagnosis and achievement of major molecular response (MMR) at 12 months in patients of CML-CP. METHODS This was a prospective, observational, non-interventional single center study including newly diagnosed adult (>18 yrs) CML-CP patients. Absolute CD26 + CML-LSC quantification was done by multiparametric flow cytometry. Patients were treated with Imatinib treatment and subsequently monitored at 3-month intervals for BCR::ABL transcript levels. MMR was defined as a BCR::ABL1 transcript level of less than 0.1% on international scale. RESULTS A total of 89 patients were enrolled in the study out of which 40.5% achieved MMR at 12 months. There was a significant difference in the median absolute CML-LSC count of the patients who achieved MMR at 12 months as compared to those who did not (58.5 vs 368.1 cells/μL; p value <0.001). Using a ROC analysis, a count of <165.69 CML LSC/μL was identified to have a sensitivity of 83.8% and specificity of 72.4%, in predicting the MMR at 12 months. CONCLUSION Absolute CML-LSC count at diagnosis in the PB predicts the MMR achievement at 12 months. An absolute count of less than 165 cells/μL is highly predictive of achieving MMR at 12 months.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ruchi Gupta
- Department of Hematology, SGPGIMS, Lucknow, India
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Abruzzese E, Bocchia M, Trawinska MM, Raspadori D, Bondanini F, Sicuranza A, Pacelli P, Re F, Cavalleri A, Farina M, Malagola M, Russo D, De Fabritiis P, Bernardi S. Minimal Residual Disease Detection at RNA and Leukemic Stem Cell (LSC) Levels: Comparison of RT-qPCR, d-PCR and CD26+ Stem Cell Measurements in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Patients in Deep Molecular Response (DMR). Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4112. [PMID: 37627140 PMCID: PMC10452239 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A Deep Molecular Response (DMR), defined as a BCR::ABL1 transcript at levels ≤ 0.01% by RT-qPCR, is the prerequisite for the successful interruption of treatment among patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). However, approximately 50% of patients in Treatment-Free Remission (TFR) studies had to resume therapy after their BCR::ABL1 transcript levels rose above the 0.1% threshold. To improve transcript detection sensitivity and accuracy, transcript levels can be analyzed using digital PCR (dPCR). dPCR increases BCR::ABL1 transcript detection sensitivity 10-100 fold; however, its ability to better select successful TFR patients remains unclear. Beyond the role of the immune system, relapses may be due to the presence of residual leukemic stem cells (LSCs) that are transcriptionally silent. Flow cytometry can be used to identify and quantify circulating bone marrow Ph+ LSCs CD34+/CD38- co-expressing CD26 (dipeptidylpeptidase-IV). To date, the significance of circulating Ph+ LSCs in TFR is unclear. The aim of this work is to compare and examine the values obtained using the three different methods of detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) in CML at RNA (RT-qPCR and dPCR) and LSC (flowcytometry) levels among patients in TFR or exhibiting a DMR. The twenty-seven patients enrolled received treatment with either imatinib (12), dasatinib (6), nilotinib (7), bosutinib (1), or interferon (1). Twelve patients were in TFR, while the rest exhibited a DMR. The TFR patients had stopped therapy for less than 1 year (3), <3 years (2), 6 years (6), and 17 years (1). Blood samples were collected and tested using the three methods at the same time. Both d-PCR and LSCs showed higher sensitivity than RT-qPCR, exhibiting positive results in samples that were undetectable using RT-qPCR (17/27). None of the patients tested negative with d-PCR; however, 23/27 were under the threshold of 0.468 copies/μL, corresponding to a stable DMR. The results were divided into quartiles, and the lowest quartiles defined the lowest MRD. These data were strongly correlated in 15/27 patients, corresponding to almost half of the TFR patients. Indeed, the TFR patients, some lasting up to 17 years, corresponded to the lowest detectable DMR categories. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to analyze and compare DMRs in a CML population using standard (RT-qPCR) and highly sensitive (dPCR and LSCs) methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Abruzzese
- Hematology Unit, S. Eugenio Hospital, ASL Roma 2, Tor Vergata University, 00144 Rome, Italy; (M.M.T.); (P.D.F.)
| | - Monica Bocchia
- Chair of Hematology, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.B.); (D.R.); (A.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Malgorzata Monika Trawinska
- Hematology Unit, S. Eugenio Hospital, ASL Roma 2, Tor Vergata University, 00144 Rome, Italy; (M.M.T.); (P.D.F.)
| | - Donatella Raspadori
- Chair of Hematology, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.B.); (D.R.); (A.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Francesco Bondanini
- Laboratory Medicine Unit, S. Eugenio Hospital, ASL Roma 2, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Anna Sicuranza
- Chair of Hematology, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.B.); (D.R.); (A.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Paola Pacelli
- Chair of Hematology, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, 53100 Siena, Italy; (M.B.); (D.R.); (A.S.); (P.P.)
| | - Federica Re
- Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Chair of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.); (A.C.); (M.F.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Alessia Cavalleri
- Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Chair of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.); (A.C.); (M.F.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Mirko Farina
- Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Chair of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.); (A.C.); (M.F.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Michele Malagola
- Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Chair of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.); (A.C.); (M.F.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Domenico Russo
- Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Chair of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.); (A.C.); (M.F.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
| | - Paolo De Fabritiis
- Hematology Unit, S. Eugenio Hospital, ASL Roma 2, Tor Vergata University, 00144 Rome, Italy; (M.M.T.); (P.D.F.)
| | - Simona Bernardi
- Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili di Brescia, Chair of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.); (A.C.); (M.F.); (M.M.); (D.R.)
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Pacelli P, Santoni A, Sicuranza A, Abruzzese E, Giai V, Crugnola M, Annunziata M, Galimberti S, Iurlo A, Luciano L, Sorà F, Fava C, Bestoso E, Marzano C, Cartocci A, Defina M, Sammartano V, Cencini E, Raspadori D, Bocchia M. Prospective monitoring of chronic myeloid leukemia patients from the time of TKI discontinuation: the fate of peripheral blood CD26 + leukemia stem cells. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1194712. [PMID: 37305536 PMCID: PMC10250640 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1194712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), about half of the patients achieving a deep and stable molecular response with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may discontinue TKI treatment without disease recurrence. As such, treatment-free remission (TFR) has become an ambitious goal of treatment. Given the evidence that deepness and duration of molecular response are necessary but not sufficient requisites for a successful TFR, additional biological criteria are needed to identify CML patients suitable for efficacious discontinuation. Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are supposed to be the reservoir of the disease. Previously, we demonstrated that residual circulating CD34+/CD38-/CD26+ LSCs were still detectable in a consistent number of CML patients during TFR. Methods: CML LSCs could be easily identified by flow-cytometry as they express the CD34+/CD38-/CD26+ phenotype. In this study, we explored the role of these cells and their correlation with molecular response in a cohort of 109 consecutive chronic phase CML patients prospectively monitored from the time of TKI discontinuation. Results: After a median observation time of 33 months from TKI discontinuation, 38/109 (35%) patients failed TFR after a median time of 4 months, while 71/109 (65%) patients are still in TFR. At TKI discontinuation, peripheral blood CD26+LSCs were undetectable in 48/109 (44%) patients and detectable in 61/109 (56%). No statistically significant correlation between detectable/undetectable CD26+LSCs and the rate of TFR loss was found (p = 0.616). The incidence of TFR loss based on the type of TKI treatment was statistically significant for imatinib treatment compared to that of nilotinib (p = 0.039). Exploring the behavior of CD26+LSCs during TFR, we observed fluctuating values that were very variable between patients, and they were not predictive of TFR loss. Discussion: Up to date, our results confirm that CD26+LSCs are detectable at the time of TKI discontinuation and during TFR. Moreover, at least for the observation median time of the study, the persistence of "fluctuating" values of residual CD26+LSCs does not hamper the possibility to maintain a stable TFR. On the contrary, even patients discontinuing TKI with undetectable CD26+LSCs could undergo TFR loss. Our results suggest that factors other than residual LSCs "burden" playing an active role in controlling disease recurrence. Additional studies evaluating CD26+LSCs' ability to modulate the immune system and their interaction in CML patients with very long stable TFR are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Pacelli
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Adele Santoni
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Sicuranza
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Giai
- Division of Hematology, Città Della Salute e Della Scienza, Turin, Italy
| | - Monica Crugnola
- Ematologia e Centro BMT, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Sara Galimberti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Hematology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Iurlo
- Hematology Division, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigiana Luciano
- Hematology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Sorà
- Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmen Fava
- Azienda Ospedaliera Ordine Mauriziano di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Elena Bestoso
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Cristina Marzano
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Marzia Defina
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Sammartano
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Emanuele Cencini
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Donatella Raspadori
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Monica Bocchia
- Hematology Unit, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
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