XIAP expression is post-transcriptionally upregulated in childhood ALL and is associated with glucocorticoid response in T-cell ALL

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Hundsdoerfer ◽  
Isabell Dietrich ◽  
Karin Schmelz ◽  
Cornelia Eckert ◽  
Günter Henze
2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10030-10030
Author(s):  
Jennifer Seelisch ◽  
Matthew Zatzman ◽  
Federico Comitani ◽  
Fabio Fuligni ◽  
Ledia Brunga ◽  
...  

10030 Background: Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the only subtype of childhood ALL whose outcome has not improved over the past two decades. The most important prognosticator is the presence of rearrangements in the Mixed Lineage Leukemia gene (MLL-r), however, many patients present with high-risk clinical features but without MLL-r. We recently identified two cases of infant ALL with high-risk clinical features resembling MLL-r, but were negative for MLL-r by conventional diagnostics. RNA sequencing revealed a partial tandem duplication in MLL (MLL-PTD). We thus aimed to determine if MLL-PTD, other MLL abnormalities, or other genetic or transcriptomic features were driving this subset of high-risk infant ALL without MLL-r. Methods: We obtained 19 banked patient samples from the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) infant ALL trial (AALL0631) from MLL wildtype patients as determined by FISH and cytogenetics. Utilizing deep RNA-sequencing, we manually inspected the MLL gene for MLL-PTD, while also performing automated fusion detection and gene expression profiling in search of defining features of these tumors. Results: 3 additional MLL-PTDs were identified, all in patients with infant T-cell ALL, whereas both index cases were in patients with infant B-cell ALL. Gene expression profiling analysis revealed that all five MLL-PTD infants clustered together. Eight infants (7 with B-cell ALL) were found to have Ph-like expression. Five of these 8 infants were also found to have an IKZF1/JAK2 expression profile; one of these five had a PAX5-JAK2 fusion detected. Two infants (including the one noted above) had novel PAX5 fusions, known drivers of B-cell leukemia. Additional detected fusions included TCF3-PBX1 and TCF4-ZNF384. Conclusions: MLL-PTDs were found in both B- and T-cell infant ALL. Though Ph-like ALL has been described in adolescents and young adults, we found a substantial frequency of Ph-like expression among MLL-WT infants. Further characterization of these infants is ongoing. If replicated in other infant cohorts, these two findings may help explain the poor prognosis of MLL-WT ALL when compared to children with standard risk ALL, and offer the possibility of targeted therapy for select infants.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 2818-2818
Author(s):  
Stéphane Leprètre ◽  
Martine Escoffre-Barbe ◽  
Patrice Chevallier ◽  
Thibaut Leguay ◽  
Laurence Legros ◽  
...  

Abstract In 2003, the GRAALL intergroup initiated two twin protocols for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; ≥ 20% marrow blasts) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL; < 20% marrow blasts), namely the GRAALL-2003 and LL-2003 trials. Treatment strategy was inspired by childhood ALL trials, including corticosteroid prephase, 5-drug induction, high dose-intensity consolidation, late intensification, CNS prophylaxis with IT injections and cranial irradiation, and 2-year maintenance. An original induction reinforcement with sequential cyclophosphamide (HyperC) was offered to ALL patients with poor early response (cortico- and/or chemo-resistance) and to all LL patients. A total of 108 patients with T-cell phenotype have been treated (76 ALL and 32 LL; median age, 30 years; M/F sex ratio, 86/22; CNS+, 9; median follow-up, 2 years). Baseline characteristics were not different among ALL and LL subgroups, except for marrow blast percentage and mediastinal enlargement (47% vs 78% for ALL vs LL; P=.005), which correlated negatively, as well as for blood counts (WBC, 27 vs 8.7 × 109/L; platelets, 60 vs 328 × 109/L; Hb, 116 vs 134 g/L for ALL vs LL; P<.001). Bulky mediastinal disease was present in 57% LL vs 22% ALL patients (P=.002). Two patients (1 ALL, 1 LL) died early while the 106 remaining (98%) reached CR. With respect to mediastinal involvement, need for a salvage course with idarubicine and high-dose cytarabine to reach CR was more frequent in LL than in ALL patients (10 LL vs 2 ALL, P<.001). Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) was offered to patients with high-risk disease, defined here as CNS involvement, poor early response, or need for salvage. Among the 55 CR patients with high-risk disease (41 ALL, 14 LL), 26 received allogeneic SCT in first CR (20 ALL, 6 LL). Overall, 23/106 CR patients relapsed (18 ALL, 5 LL) while 8 died in first CR (7 ALL, 1 LL; 4 after SCT). At 2 years, estimated DFS and overall survival were 66% (64% vs 75% for ALL vs LL, P=.59) and 75% (74% vs 78% for ALL vs LL, P=.75), respectively. The only factors which influenced outcome in this risk-adapted strategy were need for salvage (higher relapse incidence) and CNS involvement (shorter survival). As compared to historical experiences, we report here a notable gain in outcome when treating patients with T-cell lymphoblastic disease, including lymphoma, with a pediatric-inspired ALL strategy. The efficacy of this approach leads to comparable outcome for both diseases. The systematic use of HyperC induction in LL patients was well tolerated, but the need for salvage therapy was more frequent in these patients possibly due to difficulty in early mediastinal response evaluation. The presence of CNS disease at diagnosis remains an unfavorable feature. The role of HyperC during induction and the place of allogeneic SCT in first CR deserve further evaluation in this new context.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 3789-3789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Hof ◽  
Annabell Szymansky ◽  
Arend von Stackelberg ◽  
Cornelia Eckert ◽  
Renate Kirschner-Schwabe

Abstract The ubiquitous cytosolic 5´nucleotidase II (NT5C2) dephosphorylates purine nucleotide monophosphates and has an important role in cellular purine metabolism. Increased levels of nucleotidase activity have been correlated with resistance to nucleoside analog drugs that are commonly used in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Recently, activating mutations of NT5C2 have been identified in relapsed childhood ALL. NT5C2 mutations were present in 20% and 10% of children with relapsed T-cell ALL and with relapsed B-cell precursor ALL, respectively. In vitro studies showed that NT5C2 mutations conferred an increased resistance to purine analog drugs to ALL cell lines. However, the predictive and prognostic value of NT5C2 mutations for response and outcome of patients has remained elusive and systematic studies are warranted. Therefore, we studied the presence of NT5C2 mutations in 259 children with first relapse of B-cell precursor ALL. The patient cohort was a representative subset the German relapse trial ALL-REZ BFM 2002. NT5C2 exons 9, 13, 15 and 16 were sequenced according to Sanger in leukemic samples taken at diagnosis of first relapse. The clinical significance of NT5C2 mutations was assessed by comparing clinical parameters and survival differences between patients with and without NT5C2 mutation, and by multivariate Cox regression modelling. We identified NT5C2 mutations in 5.8% (15/259) of patients with first relapse of B-cell precursor ALL. This confirms the overall lower NT5C2 mutation rate in children with relapsed B-cell precursor ALL compared to those with relapsed T-cell ALL. Sixty percent (9/15) of the patients with NT5C2 mutation showed a G to A transition in codon 367 in exon 13. This mutation substitutes arginine with glutamine (p.R367Q) and represents a mutation hot spot in relapsed T-cell ALL. Our study reveals that p.R367Q is the predominant site of mutation also in relapsed ALL of B-cell precursor lineage. Patients with NT5C2 mutation significantly more often presented with a very early relapse within 18 months after initial diagnosis (P<0.001) compared to patients with wildtype NT5C2. Likewise, the median time of first remission was significantly shorter in patients with NT5C2 mutation (1.5 years versus 2.83 years, P<0.001). Regarding outcome after relapse treatment, patients with NT5C2 mutation showed a significantly reduced event-free (0.143±0.094 vs. 0.483±0.032; P=0.003) and overall survival rate (0.284±0.121 vs. 0.569±0.033; P=0.007) compared to patients with wildtype NT5C2. The predominant second event in relapse patients with NT5C2 mutation was the occurrence of a second relapse. Accordingly, the cumulative incidence of second relapse was significantly increased in patients with NT5C2 mutations compared to patients with wildtype NT5C2 (0.643±0.140 vs. 0.302±0.030; P=0.001). Multivariate analysis including time of relapse and site of relapse as established risk stratification factors in relapsed ALL revealed that NT5C2 mutation is an independent predictor for the occurrence of a second relapse (P=0.002). Surprisingly, mutation of NT5C2 was not associated with response to relapse treatment. Response was assessed by histological examination and by PCR-based sensitive detection of minimal residual disease at different time points during treatment. However, patients with NT5C2 mutation showed a similar proportion of responding and non-responding patients than relapsed children with wildtype NT5C2. We conclude that mutation of NT5C2 can serve as predictor for the occurrence of a second relapse independent of response to relapse treatment in children with relapsed B-cell precursor ALL. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 409-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
SB Murphy ◽  
SC Raimondi ◽  
GK Rivera ◽  
M Crone ◽  
RK Dodge ◽  
...  

To assess the frequency and significance of nonrandom abnormalities of chromosome 9p in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we analyzed our experience with 398 consecutive cases with completely banded karyotypes. Forty cases (10%) with abnormalities of 9p were identified: 26 with deletions, nine with unbalanced translocations resulting in the loss of 9p material, and five with apparently balanced reciprocal translocations. As compared with children with ALL lacking 9p abnormalities, these 40 cases were significantly older, had higher initial circulating WBC counts, more “lymphomatous” disease characteristics (including presence of a mediastinal mass in 15%. T- cell phenotype in 26%, splenomegaly greater than 8 cm in 25%), an increased failure rate in the first 2 to 3 years after diagnosis, and a higher incidence of extramedullary relapse. Conversely, lymphomatous ALL cases were twice as likely (19% v 8%) to have an abnormality of chromosome 9p than ALL cases lacking lymphomatous features (P = .01). The finding of an abnormal chromosome 9p, however, was not specific for lymphomatous ALL or T-cell lineage, because most cases were neither lymphomatous nor T-cell, and the overall Kaplan-Meier distribution of treatment failures for abnormal 9p cases was not statistically significantly different from control ALL cases receiving the same treatment who lacked abnormalities of 9p (P = .06, by log-rank test). We conclude that nonrandom abnormalities of chromosome 9p, especially a breakpoint in 9p21–22, occur with increased frequency in childhood ALL in association with some high-risk clinical features. Despite this association, the chromosome anomaly is nonspecific in its syndrome delineation and confers no major adverse consequence on long-term survival of childhood ALL treated with modern therapy. However, due to an apparently increased hazard of involvement of the CNS (eight of 17 failures), it may be inadvisable to lessen the intensity of CNS preventive therapy for this group of patients.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (12) ◽  
pp. 1407-1418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Stenger ◽  
Tanja A. Stief ◽  
Theresa Kaeuferle ◽  
Semjon Willier ◽  
Felicitas Rataj ◽  
...  

Abstract Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells showed significant antileukemic activity in B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Allogeneic, HLA-mismatched off-the-shelf third-party donors may offer ideal fitness of the effector cells, but carry the risk of graft-versus-host disease. Knockout (KO) of the endogenous T-cell receptor (TCR) in CD19-CAR-T cells may be a promising solution. Here, we induced a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated KO of the TCRβ chain in combination with a second-generation retroviral CAR transduction including a 4-1BB costimulatory domain in primary T cells. This tandem engineering led to a highly functional population of TCR-KO-CAR-T cells with strong activation (CD25, interferon γ), proliferation, and specific killing upon CD19 target recognition. TCR-KO-CAR-T cells had a balanced phenotype of central memory and effector memory T cells. KO of the endogenous TCR in T cells strongly ablated alloreactivity in comparison with TCR-expressing T cells. In a patient-derived xenograft model of childhood ALL, TCR-KO-CAR-T cells clearly controlled CD19+ leukemia burden and improved survival in vivo. However, coexpression of endogenous TCR plus CAR led to superior persistence of T cells and significantly prolonged leukemia control in vivo, confirmed by a second in vivo model using the leukemia cell line NALM6. These results point toward an essential role of the endogenous TCR for longevity of the response at the price of alloreactivity. In conclusion, anti-CD19 CAR T cells with a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TCR-KO are promising candidates for nonmatched third-party adoptive T-cell transfer with high antileukemic functionality in the absence of alloreactivity, but long-term persistence in vivo is better in the presence of the endogenous TCR.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1840-1840
Author(s):  
Renate Panzer-Grümayer ◽  
Andrea Inthal ◽  
Gerd Krapf ◽  
Thomas Felzmann ◽  
Helmut Gadner ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with a T cell immunophenotype accounts for about 15% of childhood ALL. While contemporary treatment protocols have improved the relapse free survival for children with T-ALL, it has for a long time been considered a malignancy with a dismal prognosis. In fact, this type of leukemia is still at a higher risk for treatment failure and early relapses than B cell precursor ALLs. Further intensification of conventional treatment or stem cell transplantation may increase the cure rate for only some subtypes of ALL but is also associated with considerable treatment-related mortality and morbidity. Thus, new treatment strategies that are less toxic and, at the same time, more effective for patients with a resistant disease, are needed. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether a specific immune reaction is triggered in children with T-ALL and to identify the respective targets. We chose SEREX (serological identification of leukemia derived antigens by recombinant expression cloning) to screen a T-ALL expression library with plasma from 18 children with T-ALL. Results: Thirteen antigens with homology to known genes that are involved in critical cellular processes were detected. Some of them have already been implicated in the induction of an immune response in a variety of cancer types. From four of these genes novel isoforms were identified and further analyzed. mRNA expression of three isoforms (HECTD1Δ, CX-ORF-15Δ and hCAP-EΔ) was restricted to more than 70% of T-ALLs (n=22) and specific antibodies against these isoforms were detected in up to 30% of patients (n=16) with the highest frequency for HECTD1Δ. The alternative splicing leads to the deletion of one glutamic acid located in a putative PEST domain thereby decreasing the PEST score suggesting a higher stability of the protein. Interestingly, the HECTD1 protein was present at high abundance in T-ALLs while is was not detectable in normal hematopoietic tissues. Since the leukemia-associated antigens detected in this study have an intracellular localization, a feature that is shared by the majority of SEREX defined antigens, the generation of immune effector responses most likely requires antigen presentation. To test this assumption, dendritic cells were loaded with HECTD1Δ protein and used for T cell stimulation. A specific T cell response was induced in vitro in all three donors, including a former T-ALL patient. Conclusion: Leukemia-associated antigens, identified by SEREX, appear to be capable of inducing both a humoral and cellular immune response in children with T-ALL. Thus, these data support further studies to establish new approaches for immunotherapy.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 1425-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schrappe ◽  
Carmelo Rizzari ◽  
Georg Mann ◽  
Anja Möricke ◽  
Maria Grazia Valsecchi ◽  
...  

Abstract Slow early response indicates poor prognosis in childhood ALL. We aimed to evaluate if post-induction MRD levels had different prognostic impact in precursor B-cell (pB) or T-cell ALL. From 07/2000 to 06/2006, 4730 pts with ALL were enrolled in trial AIEOP-BFM ALL 2000. MRD levels were centrally measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction using the identification of clone-specific T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. MRD study time-points (TP) were treatment day 33 (TP1, end of induction) and day 78 (TP2, after consolidation). To define MRD negativity, two markers with a sensitivity of at least 10−4 were required. Patients were treated with BFM induction (protocol I-A), consolidation (I-B), extra-compartment/intensified consolidation (HD-MTX in non-high-risk patients, pulses in high-risk patients), reinduction, and maintenance. MRD analysis at one or two time points suceeded in 3707 pts; the immunophenotype was available from 3636 pts. MRD levels and corresponding estimated 5-year event-free survival (5y-pEFS) comparing pB- and T-ALL are shown in Table 1 (3yrs median follow-up). MRD response in T-ALL was slower than in pB-ALL resulting in a higher percentage of pts with high MRD load in T-ALL. In pB-ALL as well as T-ALL, high MRD levels at TP2 were well predictive to identify pts with poor prognosis. For prediction of good prognostic subgroups, TP1 was more appropriate identifying a subgroup with excellent 5y-pEFS of &gt;90% in case of MRD negativity. Specificity of TP1 was poor in T-ALL if the pB-ALL criteria of MRD negativity were applied. If MRD low positive and MRD negative T-ALL pts were combined, the discrimination was as good as in pB-ALL. The optimal choice of MRD evaluation time points depends on biological factors and treatment, and is most relevant for MRD-based risk stratification. Table 1 pB-ALL T-ALL n % 5y-pEFS % (SE) n % 5y-pEFS % (SE) all 3177 100% 82.3 (1.0) 459 100% 77.2 (2.2) MRD TP1     neg 1399 44.1 92.5 (1.0) 75 16.4 94.3 (2.8)     10E-4/−5 1122 35.4 81.9 (1.7) 116 25.4 91.2 (2.8)     10E-3 393 12.4 66.4 (3.5) 110 24.1 75.3 (4.6)     ≥10E-2 256 8.1 53.2 (4.3) 156 34.1 59.8 (4.5) MRD TP2     neg 2464 77.6 87.7 (1.0) 220 47.9 91.9 (2.0)     10E-4/−5 523 16.5 68.9 (2.9) 143 31.2 76.6 (3.9)     10E-3 107 3.4 56.3 (6.5) 58 12.6 50.2 (8.1)     ≥10E-2 82 2.6 38.0 (7.3) 38 8.3 33.2 (8.3)


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 1294-1294
Author(s):  
Catriona Anne Parker ◽  
Marie Reeves ◽  
Sharon Love ◽  
Jeremy Hancock ◽  
Peter M Hoogerbrugge ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND: The determinants of outcome in children with rALL are the duration of first remission (CR1), site of relapse and immunophenotype. High risk (HR) relapses are defined as those occurring with a CR1 of <18 months; B-cell precursor (BCP) with bone marrow (BM) relapse within 6 months of stopping therapy and T-cell BM or combined relapses at any time. All other relapses are defined as standard risk (SR). In the UKALLR3 clinical trial for rALL, HR patients had a lower CR2 rate, higher post induction MRD and inferior survival when compared to SR patients treated in identical fashion. We investigated the effect of further intensifying induction therapy with clofarabine in HR patients. METHODS: Clofarabine was added to the UKALLR3 consolidation block of cyclophosphamide, etoposide (CCE) and used as induction therapy, with dexamethasone and PEG-Asparaginase for HR patients. The previous induction block with mitoxantrone (M) was given as consolidation and all patients were eligible for stem cell transplantation (SCT) with any donor after a third intensification block. The outcomes assessed were improvements in CR2, MRD and progression-free survival (PFS) when compared to historical controls of patients receiving idarubicin (I) or M induction in UKALLR3. A Fleming-style design, based on observed response and toxicity, was incorporated to allow an increase in the dose of cyclophosphamide from 300 mg/m2 to 440 mg/m2. RESULTS: 61, 39 at lower and 22 at the higher dose of cyclophosphamide, CCE patients were compared to 30 I and 69 M patients with HR rALL. Patients in the CCE group had a lower median age at presentation, but other prognostic variables were comparable. CR2 rates of 73%, 83%, 71% and low MRD (≤10-4) was seen in 32%, 0%, 25% of CCE, I and M groups. The higher cyclophosphamide dose was associated with improved CR rates, lower MRD but also increased toxicity levels in CCE compared to M group patients. The proportions of patients reaching transplantation were 43%, 60% and 55% of CCE, I and M patients respectively. 73/82 eligible patients received a SCT, 48 (66%) with matched and 25 (34%) with mismatched donors. The 2-year PFS with CCE, M and I regimens were 17% (11,23), 27% (19,34) and 30% (25,36) respectively (p=0.08). Outcomes of matched sibling, matched unrelated and mismatched SCT were comparable (p=0.9). Seventeen patients with a post induction MRD<10-4, had a 2-year PFS of 63% (50,75), compared to 21% (15,27) for 53 patients with MRD≥10-4 and 21% (17, 25) for the 90 patients with unknown MRD (p=0.005). All 4 patients with MRD≥10-3 prior to SCT and 8/9 not transplanted suffered a second relapse. Overall outcomes of BCP (2-year PFS 21% (15,28)) and T-cell ALL (2-year PFS 26% (16,35)) were comparable (p=0.9). PFS in BCP-ALL was 31% (24,38) and 13% (6,20) (p=0.1) for those receiving M and CCE respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We define two groups of HR rALL patients based on MRD levels attained post induction, independent of the induction regimen. Approximately a quarter of HR patients continue to have chemosensitive disease as evidenced by rapid MRD clearance (<10-4 at week 5). This group includes high-risk cytogenetics and T-cell rALL with MRD as the single discriminatory factor for outcome. These patients have a favorable outcome after SCT with any donor. In the other group (MRD≥10-4) over half of HR patients do not reach SCT primarily due to refractory disease (27%) or disease recurrence (14%). One third of patients relapse post SCT. For this group novel agents and newer treatment strategies are urgently required. Disclosures Off Label Use: Clofarabine 1st relapse childhood ALL.


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