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.
- MeSH
- akutní lymfatická leukemie * genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- nádorový supresorový protein p53 genetika 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
INTRODUCTION: The malignant transformation leading to a maturation arrest in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) occurs early in B-cell development, in a pro-B or pre-B cell, when somatic recombination of variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) segment immunoglobulin (IG) genes and the B-cell rescue mechanism of VH replacement might be ongoing or fully active, driving clonal evolution. In this study of newly diagnosed BCP-ALL, we sought to understand the mechanistic details of oligoclonal composition of the leukemia at diagnosis, clonal evolution during follow-up, and clonal distribution in different hematopoietic compartments. METHODS: Utilizing high-throughput sequencing assays and bespoke bioinformatics we identified BCP-ALL-derived clonally-related IGH sequences by their shared 'DNJ-stem'. RESULTS: We introduce the concept of 'marker DNJ-stem' to cover the entirety of, even lowly abundant, clonally-related family members. In a cohort of 280 adult patients with BCP-ALL, IGH clonal evolution at diagnosis was identified in one-third of patients. The phenomenon was linked to contemporaneous recombinant and editing activity driven by aberrant ongoing DH/VH-DJH recombination and VH replacement, and we share insights and examples for both. Furthermore, in a subset of 167 patients with molecular subtype allocation, high prevalence and high degree of clonal evolution driven by ongoing DH/VH-DJH recombination were associated with the presence of KMT2A gene rearrangements, while VH replacements occurred more frequently in Ph-like and DUX4 BCP-ALL. Analysis of 46 matched diagnostic bone marrow and peripheral blood samples showed a comparable clonal and clonotypic distribution in both hematopoietic compartments, but the clonotypic composition markedly changed in longitudinal follow-up analysis in select cases. Thus, finally, we present cases where the specific dynamics of clonal evolution have implications for both the initial marker identification and the MRD monitoring in follow-up samples. DISCUSSION: Consequently, we suggest to follow the marker DNJ-stem (capturing all family members) rather than specific clonotypes as the MRD target, as well as to follow both VDJH and DJH family members since their respective kinetics are not always parallel. Our study further highlights the intricacy, importance, and present and future challenges of IGH clonal evolution in BCP-ALL.
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
Key processes in the onset and evolution of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are thought to include chronic (antigenic) activation of mature B cells through the B cell receptor (BcR), signals from the microenvironment, and acquisition of genetic alterations. Here we describe three families in which two or more siblings were affected by CLL. We investigated whether there are immunogenetic similarities in the leukemia-specific immunoglobulin heavy (IGH) and light (IGL/IGK) chain gene rearrangements of the siblings in each family. Furthermore, we performed array analysis to study if similarities in CLL-associated chromosomal aberrations are present within each family and screened for somatic mutations using paired tumor/normal whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In two families a consistent IGHV gene mutational status (one IGHV-unmutated, one IGHV-mutated) was observed. Intriguingly, the third family with four affected siblings was characterized by usage of the lambda IGLV3-21 gene, with the hallmark R110 mutation of the recently described clinically aggressive IGLV3-21R110 subset. In this family, the CLL-specific rearrangements in two siblings could be assigned to either stereotyped subset #2 or the immunogenetically related subset #169, both of which belong to the broader IGLV3-21R110 subgroup. Consistent patterns of cytogenetic aberrations were encountered in all three families. Furthermore, the CLL clones carried somatic mutations previously associated with IGHV mutational status, cytogenetic aberrations and stereotyped subsets, respectively. From these findings, we conclude that similarities in immunogenetic characteristics in familial CLL, in combination with genetic aberrations acquired, point towards shared underlying mechanisms behind CLL development within each family.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
B-cell neoplasms represent a clinically heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies with considerably diverse genomic architecture recently endorsed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies. Because multiple genetic defects have a potential or confirmed clinical impact, a tendency toward more comprehensive testing of diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers is desired. This study introduces the design, validation, and implementation of an integrative, custom-designed, capture-based NGS panel titled LYmphoid NeXt-generation sequencing (LYNX) for the analysis of standard and novel molecular markers in the most common lymphoid neoplasms (chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma). A single LYNX test provides the following: i) accurate detection of mutations in all coding exons and splice sites of 70 lymphoma-related genes with a sensitivity of 5% variant allele frequency, ii) reliable identification of large genome-wide (≥6 Mb) and recurrent chromosomal aberrations (≥300 kb) in at least 20% of the clonal cell fraction, iii) the assessment of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements, and iv) lymphoma-specific translocation detection. Dedicated bioinformatic pipelines were designed to detect all markers mentioned above. The LYNX panel represents a comprehensive, up-to-date tool suitable for routine testing of lymphoid neoplasms with research and clinical applicability. It allows a wide adoption of capture-based targeted NGS in clinical practice and personalized management of patients with lymphoproliferative diseases.
- MeSH
- chromozomální aberace MeSH
- diagnostické techniky molekulární MeSH
- genetická predispozice k nemoci * MeSH
- genetická variace MeSH
- genomika metody MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lymfoidní leukemie diagnóza genetika MeSH
- lymfom diagnóza genetika MeSH
- mutace INDEL MeSH
- nádorové biomarkery * MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- translokace genetická MeSH
- variabilita počtu kopií segmentů DNA MeSH
- výpočetní biologie metody MeSH
- vysoce účinné nukleotidové sekvenování * metody MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Molecular profiling of tumor samples has acquired importance in cancer research, but currently also plays an important role in the clinical management of cancer patients. Rapid identification of genomic aberrations improves diagnosis, prognosis and effective therapy selection. This can be attributed mainly to the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods, especially targeted DNA panels. Such panels enable a relatively inexpensive and rapid analysis of various aberrations with clinical impact specific to particular diagnoses. In this review, we discuss the experimental approaches and bioinformatic strategies available for the development of an NGS panel for a reliable analysis of selected biomarkers. Compliance with defined analytical steps is crucial to ensure accurate and reproducible results. In addition, a careful validation procedure has to be performed before the application of NGS targeted assays in routine clinical practice. With more focus on bioinformatics, we emphasize the need for thorough pipeline validation and management in relation to the particular experimental setting as an integral part of the NGS method establishment. A robust and reproducible bioinformatic analysis running on powerful machines is essential for proper detection of genomic variants in clinical settings since distinguishing between experimental noise and real biological variants is fundamental. This review summarizes state-of-the-art bioinformatic solutions for careful detection of the SNV/Indels and CNVs for targeted sequencing resulting in translation of sequencing data into clinically relevant information. Finally, we share our experience with the development of a custom targeted NGS panel for an integrated analysis of biomarkers in lymphoproliferative disorders.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
