Large-scale next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies revealed extensive genetic heterogeneity, driving a highly variable clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The evolution of subclonal populations contributes to diverse therapy responses and disease refractoriness. Besides, the dynamics and impact of subpopulations before therapy initiation are not well understood. We examined changes in genomic defects in serial samples of 100 untreated CLL patients, spanning from indolent to aggressive disease. A comprehensive NGS panel LYNX, which provides targeted mutational analysis and genome-wide chromosomal defect assessment, was employed. We observed dynamic changes in the composition and/or proportion of genomic aberrations in most patients (62%). Clonal evolution of gene variants prevailed over the chromosomal alterations. Unsupervised clustering based on aberration dynamics revealed four groups of patients with different clinical behaviour. An adverse cluster was associated with fast progression and early therapy need, characterized by the expansion of TP53 defects, ATM mutations, and 18p- alongside dynamic SF3B1 mutations. Our results show that clonal evolution is active even without therapy pressure and that repeated genetic testing can be clinically relevant during long-term patient monitoring. Moreover, integrative NGS testing contributes to the consolidated evaluation of results and accurate assessment of individual patient prognosis.
Early identification of resistant cancer cells is currently a major challenge, as their expansion leads to refractoriness. To capture the dynamics of these cells, we made a comprehensive analysis of disease progression and treatment response in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patient using a combination of single-cell and bulk genomic methods. At diagnosis, the patient presented with unfavorable genetic markers, including notch receptor 1 (NOTCH1) mutation and loss(11q). The initial and subsequent treatment lines did not lead to a durable response and the patient developed refractory disease. Refractory CLL cells featured substantial dysregulation in B-cell phenotypic markers such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, immunoglobulin (IG) genes, CD19 molecule (CD19), membrane spanning 4-domains A1 (MS4A1; previously known as CD20), CD79a molecule (CD79A) and paired box 5 (PAX5), indicating B-cell de-differentiation and disease transformation. We described the clonal evolution and characterized in detail two cell populations that emerged during the refractory disease phase, differing in the presence of high genomic complexity. In addition, we successfully tracked the cells with high genomic complexity back to the time before treatment, where they formed a rare subpopulation. We have confirmed that single-cell RNA sequencing enables the characterization of refractory cells and the monitoring of their development over time.
In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), analysis of TP53 aberrations (deletion and/or mutation) is a crucial part of treatment decision-making algorithms. Technological and treatment advances have resulted in the need for an update of the last recommendations for TP53 analysis in CLL, published by ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL, in 2018. Based on the current knowledge of the relevance of low-burden TP53-mutated clones, a specific variant allele frequency (VAF) cut-off for reporting TP53 mutations is no longer recommended, but instead, the need for thorough method validation by the reporting laboratory is emphasized. The result of TP53 analyses should always be interpreted within the context of available laboratory and clinical information, treatment indication, and therapeutic options. Methodological aspects of introducing next-generation sequencing (NGS) in routine practice are discussed with a focus on reliable detection of low-burden clones. Furthermore, potential interpretation challenges are presented, and a simplified algorithm for the classification of TP53 variants in CLL is provided, representing a consensus based on previously published guidelines. Finally, the reporting requirements are highlighted, including a template for clinical reports of TP53 aberrations. These recommendations are intended to assist diagnosticians in the correct assessment of TP53 mutation status, but also physicians in the appropriate understanding of the lab reports, thus decreasing the risk of misinterpretation and incorrect management of patients in routine practice whilst also leading to improved stratification of patients with CLL in clinical trials.
TP53 gene abnormalities represent the most important biomarker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Altered protein modifications could also influence p53 function, even in the wild-type protein. We assessed the impact of p53 protein phosphorylations on p53 functions as an alternative inactivation mechanism. We studied p53 phospho-profiles induced by DNA-damaging agents (fludarabine, doxorubicin) in 71 TP53-intact primary CLL samples. Doxorubicin induced two distinct phospho-profiles: profile I (heavily phosphorylated) and profile II (hypophosphorylated). Profile II samples were less capable of activating p53 target genes upon doxorubicin exposure, resembling TP53-mutant samples at the transcriptomic level, whereas standard p53 signaling was triggered in profile I. ATM locus defects were more common in profile II. The samples also differed in the basal activity of the hypoxia pathway: the highest level was detected in TP53-mutant samples, followed by profile II and profile I. Our study suggests that wild-type TP53 CLL cells with less phosphorylated p53 show TP53-mutant-like behavior after DNA damage. p53 hypophosphorylation and the related lower ability to respond to DNA damage are linked to ATM locus defects and the higher basal activity of the hypoxia pathway.
- MeSH
- ATM protein genetika metabolismus MeSH
- chronická lymfatická leukemie * genetika MeSH
- doxorubicin farmakologie MeSH
- fosforylace MeSH
- geny p53 MeSH
- hypoxie genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádorový supresorový protein p53 * metabolismus MeSH
- poškození DNA MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Mutace v genu TP53 představují nejdůležitější nepříznivý prognostický a prediktivní faktor u pacientů s chronickou lymfocytární leukemií (CLL) a přispívají k celkově horšímu průběhu onemocnění a riziku časného relapsu či rezistenci na podávanou chemoimunoterapii. Z dosavadních výsledků vyplývá, že při léčbě chemoimunoterapií (fludarabin, cyklofosfamid a rituximab – FCR) v první linii dochází ke klonální selekci TP53 aberantních buněk, což má nepříznivý vliv na prognózu onemocnění. Recentní studie zabývající se klonální evolucí mutací v genu TP53 pod vlivem terapie BCR a Bcl-2 inhibitorovými léčivy podobný trend nenaznačují. V klinické diagnostice aberací TP53 se čím dál více využívá metody sekvenování nové generace (NGS), které dosahují citlivosti detekce alelické frekvence pod 10 % oproti standardně zavedenému Sangerovu sekvenování. V posledních letech se pozornost výzkumu CLL upíná zejména k mutacím v genu TP53 s alelickou frekvencí pod 10 % a jejich klinickou významnost. V následujícím přehledovém článku shrnujeme doposud publikované výsledky klonální evoluce mutací v genu TP53 pod vlivem různým terapeutických režimů zejména s ohledem na mutace s alelickou četností < 10 % a jejich klinickou interpretaci.
TP53 gene mutations represent the most important adverse prognostic and predictive factor in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and contribute to an overall worse disease course and risk of early relapse or resistance to chemoimmunotherapy. Results to date suggest that first-line chemoimmunotherapy (FCR) results in clonal selection of TP53 aberrant cells, which has an adverse effect on disease prognosis. Recent studies investigating the clonal evolution of TP53 mutations under BCR and Bcl-2 inhibitor therapy do not suggest a similar trend. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods are being increasingly used in the clinical diagnosis of TP53 aberrations, achieving sensitivity of allelic frequency detection below 10% compared to standard Sanger sequencing. In recent years, the focus of CLL research has been on TP53 gene mutations with allelic frequencies below 10% and their clinical significance. In the following review article, we summarize the results published so far on the clonal evolution of TP53 gene mutations under different therapeutic regimens, especially with respect to mutations with an allelic frequency < 10% and their clinical interpretation.
- MeSH
- chronická lymfatická leukemie * farmakoterapie genetika terapie MeSH
- frekvence genu účinky léků MeSH
- geny p53 * účinky léků MeSH
- klinická studie jako téma MeSH
- klonální evoluce účinky léků MeSH
- kombinovaná terapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutace účinky léků MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- vysoce účinné nukleotidové sekvenování MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Telomeres are protective structures at chromosome ends which shorten gradually with increasing age. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), short telomeres have been associated with unfavorable disease outcome, but the link between clonal evolution and telomere shortening remains unresolved. METHODS: We investigated relative telomere length (RTL) in a well-characterized cohort of 198 CLL patients by qPCR and focused in detail on a subgroup 26 patients who underwent clonal evolution of TP53 mutations (evolTP53). In the evolTP53 subgroup we explored factors influencing clonal evolution and corresponding changes in telomere length through measurements of telomerase expression, lymphocyte doubling time, and BCR signaling activity. RESULTS: At baseline, RTL of the evolTP53 patients was scattered across the entire RTL spectrum observed in our CLL cohort. RTL changed in the follow-up samples of 16/26 (62%) evolTP53 cases, inclining to reach intermediate RTL values, i.e., longer telomeres shortened compared to baseline while shorter ones prolonged. For the first time we show that TP53 clonal shifts are linked to RTL change, including unexpected RTL prolongation. We further investigated parameters associated with RTL changes. Unstable telomeres were significantly more frequent among younger patients (P = 0.032). Shorter telomeres were associated with decreased activity of the B-cell receptor signaling components p-ERK1/2, p-ZAP-70/SYK, and p-NFκB (P = 0.04, P = 0.01, and P = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that changes of telomere length reflect evolution in leukemic subclone proportion, and are associated with specific clinico-biological features of the explored cohort.
- MeSH
- chronická lymfatická leukemie genetika MeSH
- klonální evoluce genetika MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- nádorový supresorový protein p53 genetika MeSH
- protoonkogenní proteiny c-bcr metabolismus MeSH
- signální transdukce MeSH
- telomerasa genetika MeSH
- telomery ultrastruktura MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) bearing TP53 mutations experience chemorefractory disease and are therefore candidates for targeted therapy. However, the significance of low-burden TP53 mutations with <10% variant allele frequency (VAF) remains a matter for debate. Herein, we describe clonal evolution scenarios of low-burden TP53 mutations, the clinical impact of which we analyzed in a "real-world" CLL cohort. TP53 status was assessed by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 511 patients entering first-line treatment with chemo- and/or immunotherapy and 159 patients in relapse before treatment with targeted agents. Within the pretherapy cohort, 16% of patients carried low-burden TP53 mutations (0.1% to 10% VAF). Although their presence did not significantly shorten event-free survival after first-line therapy, it affected overall survival (OS). In a subgroup with TP53 mutations of 1% to 10% VAF, the impact on OS was observed only in patients with unmutated IGHV who had not received targeted therapy, as patients benefited from switching to targeted agents, regardless of initial TP53 mutational status. Analysis of the clonal evolution of low-burden TP53 mutations showed that the highest expansion rates were associated with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab regimen in both first- and second-line treatments (median VAF increase, 14.8× and 11.8×, respectively) in contrast to treatment with less intense treatment regimens (1.6×) and no treatment (0.8×). In the relapse cohort, 33% of patients carried low-burden TP53 mutations, which did not expand significantly upon targeted treatment (median VAF change, 1×). Sporadic cases of TP53 mutations' clonal shifts were connected with the development of resistance-associated mutations. Altogether, our data support the incorporation of low-burden TP53 variants in clinical decision making.
- MeSH
- chronická lymfatická leukemie genetika terapie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- imunoterapie MeSH
- Kaplanův-Meierův odhad MeSH
- klonální evoluce * účinky léků MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutace účinky léků MeSH
- nádorové buňky kultivované MeSH
- nádorový supresorový protein p53 genetika MeSH
- protokoly antitumorózní kombinované chemoterapie terapeutické užití MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
TP53 gene defects represent the most unfavorable prognostic factor in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Although recently introduced small-molecule B-cell receptor signalling inhibitors have revolutionized CLL treatment, data for ibrutinib still point to impaired prognosis for TP53-affected patients. Among cancer-associated TP53 mutations, missense substitutions predominate and typically result in a high mutated-p53 protein level. Therefore, rescuing the p53 tumor suppressor function through specific small molecules restoring p53 wild-type (wt) conformation represents an attractive therapeutic strategy for cancer patients with TP53 missense mutations. We tested the effect of mutated-p53 reactivating molecule PRIMA-1MET in 62 clinical CLL samples characterized for TP53 mutations and p53 protein level. At the subtle PRIMA-1MET concentrations (1-4 μM), most samples manifested concentration-dependent viability decrease and, conversely, apoptosis induction, with the response being similar in both the TP53-mutated and TP53-wt groups, as well as in the TP53-mutated samples with p53 protein stabilization and without it. PRIMA-1MET was able to reduce mutated p53 protein in a proportion of TP53-mutated CLL samples, and this reduction correlated with a significantly stronger viability decrease and apoptosis induction than samples with stable p53 levels. CLL cells are mostly sensitive to PRIMA-1MET apart from those with stable mutated p53.
- MeSH
- apoptóza účinky léků genetika MeSH
- chinuklidiny farmakologie MeSH
- chronická lymfatická leukemie diagnóza genetika metabolismus MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutace * MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádorový supresorový protein p53 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- viabilita buněk účinky léků genetika MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
