B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (BCP-LBL) and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) are the malignant counterparts of immature B-cells. BCP-ALL is the most common hematological malignancy in childhood, while BCP-LBL accounts for only 1% of all hematological malignancies in children. Therefore, BCP-ALL has been well studied and treatment protocols have changed over the last decades, whereas treatment for BCP-LBL has stayed roughly the same. Clinical characteristics of 364 pediatric patients with precursor B-cell malignancies were studied, consisting of BCP-LBL (n = 210) and BCP-ALL (n = 154) patients. Our results indicate that based on the clinical presentation of disease, B-cell malignancies probably represent a spectrum ranging from complete isolated medullary disease to apparent complete extramedullary disease. Hepatosplenomegaly and peripheral blood involvement are the most important discriminators, as both seen in 80% and 95% of the BCP-ALL patients and in 2% of the BCP-LBL patients, respectively. In addition, we show that the overall survival rates in this cohort differ significantly between BCP-LBL and BCP-ALL patients aged 1−18 years (p = 0.0080), and that the outcome for infants (0−1 years) with BCP-LBL is significantly decreased compared to BCP-LBL patients of all other pediatric ages (p < 0.0001).

• Klíčová slova
• B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, BCP-ALL, BCP-LBL, NHL, disease spectrum, non-Hodgkin lymphoma,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood leukemia, while the other types, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are much rarer. While data on familial risks for childhood ALL have been emerging, such data for the other childhood leukemias are hardly available. We aim to fill in the gap of knowledge by assessing familial clustering of each childhood leukemia with childhood and adult leukemia and with any cancer. We identified 4461 childhood leukemias from the Swedish Cancer Registry and obtained their family members from the Multigeneration Register. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were 3.34 for singleton siblings both diagnosed with ALL before age 20 years and 1.64 for those who had a family member diagnosed with ALL in adult age. Other childhood leukemias showed no familial risk, but childhood ALL risk was increased to 1.40 when adult family members were diagnosed with CLL. Childhood ALL was associated with endometrial cancer, and female ALL patients showed increased risk when family members were diagnosed with testicular cancer, melanoma, and skin squamous cell carcinoma. Childhood CLL was associated with rectal cancer, and childhood AML was associated with pancreatic and bladder cancers. As most of these associations are reported for the first time, there is a need to replicate the findings from independent sources.

• Klíčová slova
• cancer registry, familial risk, family database, leukemia, susceptibility genes,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Microscopic image analysis plays a significant role in initial leukemia screening and its efficient diagnostics. Since the present conventional methodologies partly rely on manual examination, which is time consuming and depends greatly on the experience of domain experts, automated leukemia detection opens up new possibilities to minimize human intervention and provide more accurate clinical information. This paper proposes a novel approach based on conventional digital image processing techniques and machine learning algorithms to automatically identify acute lymphoblastic leukemia from peripheral blood smear images. To overcome the greatest challenges in the segmentation phase, we implemented extensive pre-processing and introduced a three-phase filtration algorithm to achieve the best segmentation results. Moreover, sixteen robust features were extracted from the images in the way that hematological experts do, which significantly increased the capability of the classifiers to recognize leukemic cells in microscopic images. To perform the classification, we applied two traditional machine learning classifiers, the artificial neural network and the support vector machine. Both methods reached a specificity of 95.31%, and the sensitivity of the support vector machine and artificial neural network reached 98.25 and 100%, respectively.

• Klíčová slova
• acute leukemia, automated leukemia detection, blood smear image analysis, cell segmentation, image processing, leukemic cell identification, machine learning,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Relapse remains a formidable challenge for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Recently, recurrent mutations in NT5C2 were identified as a common genomic lesion unique in relapsed ALL and were linked to acquired thiopurine resistance. However, molecular mechanisms by which NT5C2 regulates thiopurine cytotoxicity were incompletely understood. To this end, we sought to comprehensively characterize the biochemical and cellular effects of NT5C2 mutations. Compared with wild-type NT5C2, mutant proteins showed elevated 5'-nucleotidase activity with a stark preference of thiopurine metabolites over endogenous purine nucleotides, suggesting neomorphic effects specific to thiopurine metabolism. Expression of mutant NT5C2 mutations also significantly reduced thiopurine uptake in vitro with concomitant increase in efflux of 6-mercaptopurine (MP) metabolites, plausibly via indirect effects on drug transporter pathways. Finally, intracellular metabolomic profiling revealed significant shifts in nucleotide homeostasis induced by mutant NT5C2 at baseline; MP treatment also resulted in global changes in metabolomic profiles with completely divergent effects in cells with mutant versus wild-type NT5C2. Collectively, our data indicated that NT5C2 mutations alter thiopurine metabolism and cellular disposition, but also influence endogenous nucleotide homeostasis and thiopurine-induced metabolomic response. These complex mechanisms contributed to NT5C2-mediated drug resistance in ALL and pointed to potential opportunities for therapeutic targeting in relapsed ALL.

• MeSH
• 5'-nukleotidasa metabolismus   MeSH
• akutní lymfatická leukemie farmakoterapie   enzymologie   patologie   MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• chemorezistence * MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• merkaptopurin chemie   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• metabolomika MeSH
• mutace genetika   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 5'-nukleotidasa MeSH
• merkaptopurin MeSH
• NT5C2 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent pediatric cancer. Fusion genes are hallmarks of ALL, and they are used as biomarkers for risk stratification as well as targets for precision medicine. Hence, clinical diagnostics pursues broad and comprehensive strategies for accurate discovery of fusion genes. Currently, the gold standard methodologies for fusion gene detection are fluorescence in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction; these, however, lack sensitivity for the identification of new fusion genes and breakpoints. In this study, we implemented a simple operating procedure (OP) for detecting fusion genes. The OP employs RNA CaptureSeq, a versatile and effortless next-generation sequencing assay, and an in-house as well as a purpose-built bioinformatics pipeline for the subsequent data analysis. The OP was evaluated on a cohort of 89 B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL) pediatric samples annotated as negative for fusion genes by the standard techniques. The OP confirmed 51 samples as negative for fusion genes, and, more importantly, it identified known (KMT2A rearrangements) as well as new fusion events (JAK2 rearrangements) in the remaining 38 investigated samples, of which 16 fusion genes had prognostic significance. Herein, we describe the OP and its deployment into routine ALL diagnostics, which will allow substantial improvements in both patient risk stratification and precision medicine.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• MeSH
• akutní lymfatická leukemie diagnóza   etiologie   metabolismus   terapie   MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• biopsie MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• genová přestavba MeSH
• imunitní dozor * MeSH
• klonální evoluce genetika   imunologie   MeSH
• kostní dřeň MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• prekancerózy patologie   MeSH
• translokace genetická MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• dopisy MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH

TCF3-HLF-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is currently incurable. Using an integrated approach, we uncovered distinct mutation, gene expression and drug response profiles in TCF3-HLF-positive and treatment-responsive TCF3-PBX1-positive ALL. We identified recurrent intragenic deletions of PAX5 or VPREB1 in constellation with the fusion of TCF3 and HLF. Moreover somatic mutations in the non-translocated allele of TCF3 and a reduction of PAX5 gene dosage in TCF3-HLF ALL suggest cooperation within a restricted genetic context. The enrichment for stem cell and myeloid features in the TCF3-HLF signature may reflect reprogramming by TCF3-HLF of a lymphoid-committed cell of origin toward a hybrid, drug-resistant hematopoietic state. Drug response profiling of matched patient-derived xenografts revealed a distinct profile for TCF3-HLF ALL with resistance to conventional chemotherapeutics but sensitivity to glucocorticoids, anthracyclines and agents in clinical development. Striking on-target sensitivity was achieved with the BCL2-specific inhibitor venetoclax (ABT-199). This integrated approach thus provides alternative treatment options for this deadly disease.

• MeSH
• aktivátorový protein specifický pro B-buňky genetika   MeSH
• akutní lymfatická leukemie farmakoterapie   genetika   mortalita   MeSH
• antitumorózní látky farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• chemorezistence MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• fúzní onkogenní proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• genetické asociační studie MeSH
• genomika MeSH
• inhibiční koncentrace 50 MeSH
• Kaplanův-Meierův odhad MeSH
• kohortové studie MeSH
• kokultivační techniky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• mutační analýza DNA MeSH
• myši inbrední NOD MeSH
• myši SCID MeSH
• náhradní lehké řetězce imunoglobulinů genetika   MeSH
• sekvenční delece MeSH
• xenogenní modely - testy antitumorózní aktivity MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aktivátorový protein specifický pro B-buňky MeSH
• antitumorózní látky MeSH
• fúzní onkogenní proteiny MeSH
• náhradní lehké řetězce imunoglobulinů MeSH
• PAX5 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• TCF3-HLF fusion protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• VPREB1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč