Through the European Research Initiative on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (ERIC), we screened 3490 patients with CLL for mutations within the NOTCH1 (n=3334), SF3B1 (n=2322), TP53 (n=2309), ...MYD88 (n=1080) and BIRC3 (n=919) genes, mainly at diagnosis (75%) and before treatment (>90%). BIRC3 mutations (2.5%) were associated with unmutated IGHV genes (U-CLL), del(11q) and trisomy 12, whereas MYD88 mutations (2.2%) were exclusively found among M-CLL. NOTCH1, SF3B1 and TP53 exhibited variable frequencies and were mostly enriched within clinically aggressive cases. Interestingly, as the timespan between diagnosis and mutational screening increased, so too did the incidence of SF3B1 mutations; no such increase was observed for NOTCH1 mutations. Regarding the clinical impact, NOTCH1 mutations, SF3B1 mutations and TP53 aberrations (deletion/mutation, TP53ab) correlated with shorter time-to-first-treatment (P<0.0001) in 889 treatment-naive Binet stage A cases. In multivariate analysis (n=774), SF3B1 mutations and TP53ab along with del(11q) and U-CLL, but not NOTCH1 mutations, retained independent significance. Importantly, TP53ab and SF3B1 mutations had an adverse impact even in U-CLL. In conclusion, we support the clinical relevance of novel recurrent mutations in CLL, highlighting the adverse impact of SF3B1 and TP53 mutations, even independent of IGHV mutational status, thus underscoring the need for urgent standardization/harmonization of the detection methods.
Recent studies have revealed recurrent mutations of the NOTCH1, SF3B1 and BIRC3 genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), especially among aggressive, chemorefractory cases. Nevertheless, it is ...currently unknown whether their presence may differ in subsets of patients carrying stereotyped B-cell receptors and also exhibiting distinct prognoses. Here, we analyzed the mutation status of NOTCH1, SF3B1 and BIRC3 in three subsets with particularly poor prognosis, that is, subset #1, #2 and #8, aiming to explore links between genetic aberrations and immune signaling. A remarkably higher frequency of SF3B1 mutations was revealed in subset #2 (44%) versus subset #1 and #8 (4.6% and 0%, respectively; P<0.001). In contrast, the frequency of NOTCH1 mutations in subset #2 was only 8%, lower than the frequency observed in either subset #1 or #8 (19% and 14%, respectively; P=0.04 for subset #1 versus #2). No associations were found for BIRC3 mutations that overall were rare. The apparent non-random association of certain mutations with stereotyped CLL subsets alludes to subset-biased acquisition of genomic aberrations, perhaps consistent with particular antigen/antibody interactions. These novel findings assist in unraveling specific mechanisms underlying clinical aggressiveness in poor-prognostic stereotyped subsets, with far-reaching implications for understanding their clonal evolution and implementing biologically oriented therapy.
Next-generation sequencing has revealed novel recurrent mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, particularly in patients with aggressive disease. Here, we explored targeted re-sequencing as a ...novel strategy to assess the mutation status of genes with prognostic potential. To this end, we utilized HaloPlex targeted enrichment technology and designed a panel including nine genes: ATM, BIRC3, MYD88, NOTCH1, SF3B1 and TP53, which have been linked to the prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and KLHL6, POT1 and XPO1, which are less characterized but were found to be recurrently mutated in various sequencing studies. A total of 188 chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with poor prognostic features (unmutated IGHV, n=137; IGHV3-21 subset #2, n=51) were sequenced on the HiSeq 2000 and data were analyzed using well-established bioinformatics tools. Using a conservative cutoff of 10% for the mutant allele, we found that 114/180 (63%) patients carried at least one mutation, with mutations in ATM, BIRC3, NOTCH1, SF3B1 and TP53 accounting for 149/177 (84%) of all mutations. We selected 155 mutations for Sanger validation (variant allele frequency, 10-99%) and 93% (144/155) of mutations were confirmed; notably, all 11 discordant variants had a variant allele frequency between 11-27%, hence at the detection limit of conventional Sanger sequencing. Technical precision was assessed by repeating the entire HaloPlex procedure for 63 patients; concordance was found for 77/82 (94%) mutations. In summary, this study demonstrates that targeted next-generation sequencing is an accurate and reproducible technique potentially suitable for routine screening, eventually as a stand-alone test without the need for confirmation by Sanger sequencing.
The Three Musketeers' slogan of solidarity—“All for one, and one for all”—aptly describes how the emerging science of individualized medicine (IM) promises to transform the value of the medical care ...we deliver to specific individuals as well as global populations.
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2007) 82, 491–493. doi:10.1038/sj.clpt.6100390
L’alpha thalassémie-syndrome myélodysplasique (ATSMD) est une complication possible associée à l’instabilité génétique des hémopathies clonales telles que les syndromes myélodysplasiques (SMD). Cette ...pathologie est caractérisée par la production d’une hémoglobine dite H constituée d’un tétramère de chaînes bêta du fait de l’incapacité à synthétiser des globines alpha.
Un patient de 86 ans avec une anémie chronique et microcytaire non carentielle, aggravait soudainement son anémie avec une anisocytose et une poïkilocytose marquées. L’examen cytologique de la moelle osseuse et le caryotype étaient en faveur d’un SMD avec dysplasie multilignée de bon pronostic. La coloration du sang périphérique au Bleu de Crésyl montrait des hématies « en balle de golf ». L’électrophorèse de l’hémoglobine montrait une hémoglobine H. Le diagnostic d’ATSMD était porté du fait d’une mutation non-sens du gène ATRX mise en évidence au séquençage de nouvelle génération.
L’association SMD, anémie microcytaire avec anisocytose et poïkilocytose doit faire évoquer le diagnostic de ATSMD, qui complique moins de 10 % des SMD.
Alpha thalassemia-myelodysplastic syndrome (ATMDS) is one of the possible complications related to the genetic instability typical of clonal hemopoietic disorders such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Hemoglobin H acquisition, which is hemoglobin without alpha chains and with 4 beta chains is the hallmark of this disease.
An 86-year-old male with chronic, microcytic anemia was referred due to a fall in his hemoglobin level. The blood smear was remarkable for intense anisocytoses and poikilocytosis. Bone marrow analysis was followed by a diagnosis of MDS with a good prognostic score. Peripheral blood coloration with brilliant cresyl blue showed “golf ball-like” erythrocytes. Hemoglobin electrophoresis is notable for the presence of H hemoglobin. The new generation sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of ATMDS showing a non-sense mutation in the gene ATRX.
The diagnosis of ATMDS should be considered in the presence of the association of MDS, microcytic anemia and marked blood smear abnormalities such as anisocytosis and poikilocytosis. A little less than 10% of all MDS are complicated by ATMDS.
The ongoing Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) shortage has created challenges for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBCa). Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of reduced-dose ...induction BCG (RD-iBCG) compared to full-dose induction BCG (FD-iBCG) regarding recurrence rates. We hypothesized that patients receiving RD-iBCG may recur at a higher rate compared to those who received FD-iBCG therapy. A retrospective review of all patients with NMIBCa treated with intravesical therapy at our institution between 2015-2020 was conducted. Inclusion criteria consisted of having a diagnosis of AUA intermediate or high-risk NMIBCa with an indication for a six-week induction course of FD or RD-BCG with at least 1 year of documented follow up. The data were censored at one year. Propensity score matching for age, sex, tumor pathology, and initial vs. recurrent disease was performed. The primary endpoint was bladder cancer recurrence, reported as recurrence-free survival. A total of 254 patients were reviewed for this study. Our final cohort was 139 patients after exclusion. Thirty-nine percent of patients had HGT1 disease. 38.6% of patients receiving RD-BCG developed a recurrence of bladder cancer within a one-year follow-up as compared to 33.7% of patients receiving FD therapy. After propensity matching, this value remained statistically significant (
= 0.03). In conclusion, RD-iBCG for NMIBCa is associated with a significantly greater risk of recurrence than full-dose induction therapy, suggesting that RD-iBCG may not be equivalent or non-inferior to full-dose administration in the short term.
Despite evidence from neuroimaging research, diagnosis and early prognosis in the vegetative (VS/UWS) and minimally conscious (MCS) states still depend on the observation of clinical signs of ...responsiveness. Multiple testing has documented a systematic variability during the day in the incidence of established signs of responsiveness. Spontaneous fluctuations of the Coma Recovery Scale-revised (CRS-r) scores are conceivable.
We retrospectively analyzed the CRS-r repeatedly administered to 7 VS/UWS and 12 MCS subjects undergoing systematic observation during a conventional 13 weeks. rehabilitation plan.
The CRS-r global, visual and auditory scores were found higher in the morning than at the afternoon administration in both VS/UWS and MCS subgroups over the entire period of observation. The probability for a VS/UWS subject of being classified as MCS at the morning testing at least once during the 13 weeks. observation was as high as 30%, i.e., compatible with the reported misdiagnosis rate between the two clinical conditions.
Multiple CRS-r testing is advisable to minimize the risk of misclassification; estimates of spontaneous variability could be used to characterize with greater accuracy patients with disorder of consciousness and possibly help optimize the rehabilitation plan.
Alpha thalassemia-myelodysplastic syndrome (ATMDS) is one of the possible complications related to the genetic instability typical of clonal hemopoietic disorders such as myelodysplastic syndromes ...(MDS). Hemoglobin H acquisition, which is hemoglobin without alpha chains and with 4 beta chains is the hallmark of this disease.
An 86-year-old male with chronic, microcytic anemia was referred due to a fall in his hemoglobin level. The blood smear was remarkable for intense anisocytoses and poikilocytosis. Bone marrow analysis was followed by a diagnosis of MDS with a good prognostic score. Peripheral blood coloration with brilliant cresyl blue showed "golf ball-like" erythrocytes. Hemoglobin electrophoresis is notable for the presence of H hemoglobin. The new generation sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of ATMDS showing a non-sense mutation in the gene ATRX.
The diagnosis of ATMDS should be considered in the presence of the association of MDS, microcytic anemia and marked blood smear abnormalities such as anisocytosis and poikilocytosis. A little less than 10% of all MDS are complicated by ATMDS.