Publication
Clonal evolution in relapsed NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia
Journal Paper/Review - May 23, 2013
Krönke Jan, Kindler Thomas, Schittenhelm Marcus, Krauter Jürgen, Ganser Arnold, Göhring Gudrun, Schlegelberger Brigitte, Schlenk Richard F, Döhner Hartmut, Späth Daniela, Kapp-Schwörer Silke, Bullinger Lars, Teleanu Veronica, Tschürtz Florian, Gaidzik Verena I, Kühn Michael W M, Rücker Frank G, Holzmann Karlheinz, Paschka Peter, Döhner Konstanze
Units
PubMed
Doi
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Electronic
Pages
Brief description/objective
Mutations in the nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) gene are considered a founder event in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To address the role of clonal evolution in relapsed NPM1-mutated (NPM1mut) AML, we applied high-resolution, genome-wide, single-nucleotide polymorphism array profiling to detect copy number alterations (CNAs) and uniparental disomies (UPDs) and performed comprehensive gene mutation screening in 53 paired bone marrow/peripheral blood samples obtained at diagnosis and relapse. At diagnosis, 15 aberrations (CNAs, n = 10; UPDs, n = 5) were identified in 13 patients (25%), whereas at relapse, 56 genomic alterations (CNAs, n = 46; UPDs, n = 10) were detected in 29 patients (55%) indicating an increase in genomic complexity. Recurrent aberrations acquired at relapse included deletions affecting tumor suppressor genes (ETV6 [n = 3], TP53 [n = 2], NF1 [n = 2], WT1 [n = 3], FHIT [n = 2]) and homozygous FLT3 mutations acquired via UPD13q (n = 7). DNMT3A mutations (DNMT3Amut) showed the highest stability (97%). Persistence of DNMT3Amut in 5 patients who lost NPM1mut at relapse suggests that DNMT3Amut may precede NPM1mut in AML pathogenesis. Of note, all relapse samples shared at least 1 genetic aberration with the matched primary AML sample, implying common ancestral clones. In conclusion, our study reveals novel insights into clonal evolution in NPM1mut AML.