Bloomfield, Clara D.

Key Points The addition of sorafenib to chemotherapy for older adults with FLT3-ITD mutated AML is safe and may improve overall survival.

Abstract Monosomy of chromosome 7 is the most frequent autosomal monosomy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), where it associates with poor clinical outcomes. However, molecular features associated with this sole monosomy subtype (-7 AML), which may give insights into the basis for its poor prognosis, have not been characterized. In this study, we analyzed 36 cases of -7 AML for mutations in 81 leukemia/cancer-associated genes using a customized targeted next-generation sequencing panel (Miseq). Global gene and miRNA expression profiles were also determined using paired RNA and small RNA sequencing data. Notably, gene mutations were detected in all the major AML-associated functional groups, which include activated signaling, chromatin remodeling, cohesin complex, methylation, NPM1, spliceosome, transcription factors, and tumor suppressors. Gene mutations in the chromatin remodeling groups were relatively more frequent in patients <60 years of age, who also had less mutations in the methylation and spliceosome groups compared with patients ≥60 years of age. Novel recurrent mutational events in AML were identified in the SMARCA2 gene. In patients ≥60 years of age, the presence of spliceosome mutations associated with a lower complete remission rate (P = 0.03). RNA sequencing revealed distinct gene and miRNA expression patterns between the sole -7 and non -7 AML cases, with reduced expression, as expected, of many genes and miRNAs mapped to chromosome 7, and overexpression of ID1, MECOM, and PTPRM, among others. Overall, our findings illuminate a number of molecular features of the underlying aggressive pathobiology in -7 AML patients. Cancer Res; 77(1); 207–18. ©2016 AACR.

SummarySomatic mutation of the DNMT3A gene at the arginine R882 site is common in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The prognostic significance of DNMT3A R882 mutation clearance, using traditional diagnostic next generation sequencing (NGS) methods, during complete remission (CR) in AML patients is controversial. We examined the impact of clearing DNMT3A R882 mutations at diagnosis to the detectable threshold of ˂3% during CR on outcome in 56 adult AML patients. Mutational remission, defined as clearance of pre‐treatment DNMT3A R882 and all other AML‐associated mutations to a variant allele frequency ˂3%, occurred in 14 patients whereas persistent DNMT3A R882 mutations were observed in 42 patients. There were no significant differences in disease‐free or overall survival between patients with and without DNMT3A R882 mutation clearance. Patients with persistent DNMT3A R882 who cleared all other AML mutations and did not acquire new mutations (n = 30), trended towards longer disease‐free survival (1·6 vs. 0·6 years, P = 0·06) than patients with persistence of DNMT3A R882, in addition to other mutations or acquisition of new AML‐associated mutations, such as those in TET2, JAK2, ASXL1 and TP53 (n = 12). These data demonstrate that DNMT3A R882 mutations, as assessed by traditional NGS methods, persist in the majority of AML patients in CR.

SummaryLong‐term outcomes and updated clinical efficacy and safety data were evaluated for newly‐diagnosed multiple myeloma patients treated on a phase II study of bortezomib and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PegLD). Out of 61 patients, the overall response rate was 57% and the near‐complete/complete response rate was 7%. Patients aged ≥65 years old had a higher incidence of treatment‐related ≥Grade 3 non‐haematological toxicity (80% vs. 51%, P = 0·020). Median overall survival was 5·6 years and negatively impacted by the presence of International Staging System stage III disease, underscoring the need for novel treatment strategies for this group of patients.

Significance Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in numerous biological roles including epigenetic regulation, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Whereas lncRNAs contribute to epigenetic gene regulation, metastasis, and prognosis in solid tumors, their role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not been hitherto reported. Here, we show that lncRNA expression profiles are associated with recurrent mutations, clinical features, and outcome in AML. A fraction of these lncRNAs may have a functional role in leukemogenesis. Furthermore, lncRNAs could be used as biomarkers for outcome in AML. The identification of patients likely to achieve complete remission with standard therapy alone, based on lncRNA expression, is a significant advance potentially sparing such patients from other toxicities and focusing investigational approaches on postremission studies.

Key PointsIn this first ALL GWAS in AYAs, we determined that inherited GATA3 variants strongly influence ALL susceptibility in this age group. These findings revealed similarities and differences in the genetic basis of ALL susceptibility between young children and AYAs.

BACKGROUND Recombinant interleukin‐2 (rIL‐2) induces cellular cytotoxicity against leukemia blasts. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR) may harbor minimal residual disease that is susceptible to rIL‐2–activated effector cells. METHODS In the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 19808 study, patients with AML in first CR were randomly assigned after all planned chemotherapy to receive a 90‐day course of subcutaneously administered rIL‐2 or no further therapy. The primary objective was to compare disease‐free survival (DFS) between the 2 treatment arms. A total of 534 patients achieved a CR, 214 of whom were randomized. Six courses of low‐dose daily rIL‐2 were given for the expansion of cytotoxic effector cells, each followed by 3‐day high‐dose boluses given to trigger cytotoxicity against minimal residual disease. RESULTS On the protocol‐specified intention‐to‐treat analysis, the hazards ratio for DFS was 0.75 (95% confidence interval, 0.52‐1.09; P = .13); the 5‐year DFS rate was 42% in the observation arm and 53% in the rIL‐2 treatment arm. The hazards ratio for overall survival (OS) was 0.88 (95% confidence interval, 0.54‐1.23; P = .34); the 5‐year OS rate was 58% for the observation arm and 63% for the rIL‐2 treatment arm. Twenty‐five of the 107 patients randomized to treatment with rIL‐2 either refused or were unable to initiate therapy and 30 patients did not complete their assigned therapy. However, significant toxicities were not commonly observed. The trial design did not anticipate the difficulties patients would encounter with protocol compliance. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of immunotherapy with rIL‐2 administered after intensive postremission treatment was not assessed as planned because of unexpected refusals by patients and/or their physicians to comply with protocol‐directed therapy. Neither DFS nor OS was found to be significantly improved. Cancer 2014;120:1010–1017 . © 2013 American Cancer Society .

Purpose To evaluate the impact of miR-155 on the outcome of adults with cytogenetically normal (CN) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the context of other clinical and molecular prognosticators and to gain insight into the leukemogenic role of this microRNA. Patients and Methods We evaluated 363 patients with primary CN-AML. miR-155 levels were measured in pretreatment marrow and blood by NanoString nCounter assays that quantified the expression of the encoding gene MIR155HG. All molecular prognosticators were assessed centrally. miR-155–associated gene and microRNA expression profiles were derived using microarrays. Results Considering all patients, high miR-155 expression was associated with a lower complete remission (CR) rate (P < .001) and shorter disease-free survival (P = .001) and overall survival (OS; P < .001) after adjusting for age. In multivariable analyses, high miR-155 expression remained an independent predictor for a lower CR rate (P = .007) and shorter OS (P < .001). High miR-155 expressers had approximately 50% reduction in the odds of achieving CR and 60% increase in the risk of death compared with low miR-155 expressers. Although high miR-155 expression was not associated with a distinct microRNA expression profile, it was associated with a gene expression profile enriched for genes involved in cellular mechanisms deregulated in AML (eg, apoptosis, nuclear factor-κB activation, and inflammation), thereby supporting a pivotal and unique role of this microRNA in myeloid leukemogenesis. Conclusion miR-155 expression levels are associated with clinical outcome independently of other strong clinical and molecular predictors. The availability of emerging compounds with antagonistic activity to microRNAs in the clinic provides the opportunity for future therapeutic targeting of miR-155 in AML.

Abstract The inv(16)(p13q22)/t(16;16)(p13;q22) in acute myeloid leukemia results in multiple CBFB-MYH11 fusion transcripts, with type A being most frequent. The biologic and prognostic implications of different fusions are unclear. We analyzed CBFB-MYH11 fusion types in 208 inv(16)/t(16;16) patients with de novo disease, and compared clinical and cytogenetic features and the KIT mutation status between type A (n = 182; 87%) and non–type A (n = 26; 13%) patients. At diagnosis, non–type A patients had lower white blood counts (P = .007), and more often trisomies of chromosomes 8 (P = .01) and 21 (P < .001) and less often trisomy 22 (P = .02). No patient with non–type A fusion carried a KIT mutation, whereas 27% of type A patients did (P = .002). Among the latter, KIT mutations conferred adverse prognosis; clinical outcomes of non–type A and type A patients with wild-type KIT were similar. We also derived a fusion-type–associated global gene-expression profile. Gene Ontology analysis of the differentially expressed genes revealed—among others—an enrichment of up-regulated genes involved in activation of caspase activity, cell differentiation and cell cycle control in non–type A patients. We conclude that non–type A fusions associate with distinctclinical and genetic features, including lack of KIT mutations, and a unique gene-expression profile.