bims-tremyl 2022-06-05 papers

bims-tremyl

Biomed News

on Therapy resistance biology in myeloid leukemia

Issue of 2022–06–05
28 papers selected by
Paolo Gallipoli, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London

Clinical outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia treated with gilteritinib who received prior midostaurin or sorafenib.
The longitudinal dynamics and natural history of clonal haematopoiesis.
Histone demethylase KDM4C is a functional dependency in JAK2-mutated neoplasms.
Resurgence of myeloproliferative neoplasm in patients in remission from blast transformation after treatment with hypomethylating agents.
Efficacy and Safety of Avapritinib in Previously Treated Patients with Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis.
Bosutinib versus imatinib for newly diagnosed chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia: final results from the BFORE trial.
RUNX1 inhibition using lipid nanoparticle-mediated siRNA delivery as an effective treatment for acute leukemias.
Clonal dynamics of haematopoiesis across the human lifespan.
NPM1-mutated AML-MRC diagnosed on the basis of history of MDS or MDS/MPN frequently harbours secondary-type mutations and confers inferior outcome compared to AML with mutated NPM1.
A Temporal PROTAC Cocktail-Mediated Sequential Degradation of AURKA Abrogates Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells.
Acute myeloid leukemia: therapeutic targeting of stem cells.
Validation of a new NGS-based myeloid panel in acute myeloid leukemia: A single-center experience.
Long-term outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia and other high-risk myeloid malignancies after undergoing sequential conditioning regimen based on IDA-FLAG and high-dose melphalan.
Predictive scoring systems for molecular responses in persons with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia receiving initial imatinib therapy.
Efficacy of conventional-dose cytarabine, idarubicin and thioguanine (IAT) versus intermediate-dose cytarabine and idarubicin (IdAraC-Ida) in the induction treatment of AML: long-term results of the prospective randomized nationwide AML-2003 study by the Finnish Leukemia Group.
p57Kip2 regulates embryonic blood stem cells by controlling sympathoadrenal progenitor expansion.
In utero origin of myelofibrosis presenting in adult monozygotic twins.
PLAG1 dampens protein synthesis to promote human hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal.
Differential characteristics of TP53 alterations in pure erythroid leukemia arising after exposure to cytotoxic therapy.
Clonal hematopoiesis and mosaicism revealed by a multi-tissue analysis of constitutional TP53 Status.
Blood's life history traced through genomic scars.
Impaired humoral and cellular response to primary COVID-19 vaccination in patients less than two years post allogeneic bone marrow transplant.
Recurrent non-coding somatic and germline WT1 variants converge to disrupt MYB binding in acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Outcome prediction of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in children.
Constitutive loss of DNMT3A causes morbid obesity through misregulation of adipogenesis.
Stromal changes in the aged lung induce an emergence from melanoma dormancy.
Epigenetic Regulation to Enhance Graft-versus-Leukemia Activity.
FDA Approval Summary: Revised Indication and Dosing Regimen for Ponatinib Based on the Results of the OPTIC Trial.

Blood Cancer J. 2022 May 30. 12(5): 84

Clinical outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia treated with gilteritinib who received prior midostaurin or sorafenib.

Alexander E Perl, Naoko Hosono, Pau Montesinos, Nikolai Podoltsev, Giovanni Martinelli, Nicki Panoskaltsis, Christian Recher, Catherine C Smith, Mark J Levis, Stephen Strickland, Christoph Röllig, Marco Groß-Langenhoff, Wen-Chien Chou, Je-Hwan Lee, Hisayuki Yokoyama, Nahla Hasabou, Qiaoyang Lu, Ramon V Tiu, Jessica K Altman.

The fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor gilteritinib is indicated for relapsed or refractory (R/R) FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML), based on its observed superior response and survival outcomes compared with salvage chemotherapy (SC). Frontline use of FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) midostaurin and sorafenib may contribute to cross-resistance to single-agent gilteritinib in the R/R AML setting but has not been well characterized. To clarify the potential clinical impact of prior TKI use, we retrospectively compared clinical outcomes in patients with R/R FLT3-mutated AML in the CHRYSALIS and ADMIRAL trials who received prior midostaurin or sorafenib against those without prior FLT3 TKI exposure. Similarly high rates of composite complete remission (CRc) were observed in patients who received a FLT3 TKI before gilteritinib (CHRYSALIS, 42%; ADMIRAL, 52%) and those without prior FLT3 TKI therapy (CHRYSALIS, 43%; ADMIRAL, 55%). Among patients who received a prior FLT3 TKI in ADMIRAL, a higher CRc rate (52%) and trend toward longer median overall survival was observed in the gilteritinib arm versus the SC arm (CRc = 20%; overall survival, 5.1 months; HR = 0.602; 95% CI: 0.299, 1.210). Remission duration was shorter with prior FLT3 TKI exposure. These findings support gilteritinib for FLT3-mutated R/R AML after prior sorafenib or midostaurin.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-022-00677-7
Nature. 2022 Jun 01.

The longitudinal dynamics and natural history of clonal haematopoiesis.

Margarete A Fabre, José Guilherme de Almeida, Edoardo Fiorillo, Emily Mitchell, Aristi Damaskou, Justyna Rak, Valeria Orrù, Michele Marongiu, Michael Spencer Chapman, M S Vijayabaskar, Joanna Baxter, Claire Hardy, Federico Abascal, Nicholas Williams, Jyoti Nangalia, Iñigo Martincorena, Peter J Campbell, Eoin F McKinney, Francesco Cucca, Moritz Gerstung, George S Vassiliou.

Clonal expansions driven by somatic mutations become pervasive across human tissues with age, including in the haematopoietic system, where the phenomenon is termed clonal haematopoiesis1-4. The understanding of how and when clonal haematopoiesis develops, the factors that govern its behaviour, how it interacts with ageing and how these variables relate to malignant progression remains limited5,6. Here we track 697 clonal haematopoiesis clones from 385 individuals 55 years of age or older over a median of 13 years. We find that 92.4% of clones expanded at a stable exponential rate over the study period, with different mutations driving substantially different growth rates, ranging from 5% (DNMT3A and TP53) to more than 50% per year (SRSF2P95H). Growth rates of clones with the same mutation differed by approximately ±5% per year, proportionately affecting slow drivers more substantially. By combining our time-series data with phylogenetic analysis of 1,731 whole-genome sequences of haematopoietic colonies from 7 individuals from an older age group, we reveal distinct patterns of lifelong clonal behaviour. DNMT3A-mutant clones preferentially expanded early in life and displayed slower growth in old age, in the context of an increasingly competitive oligoclonal landscape. By contrast, splicing gene mutations drove expansion only later in life, whereas TET2-mutant clones emerged across all ages. Finally, we show that mutations driving faster clonal growth carry a higher risk of malignant progression. Our findings characterize the lifelong natural history of clonal haematopoiesis and give fundamental insights into the interactions between somatic mutation, ageing and clonal selection.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04785-z
Leukemia. 2022 Jun 02.

Histone demethylase KDM4C is a functional dependency in JAK2-mutated neoplasms.

Philipp Ernst, Tina M Schnöder, Nicolas Huber, Florian Perner, Ashok Kumar Jayavelu, Theresa Eifert, Chen-Jen Hsu, Nuria Tubío-Santamaría, Carl C Crodel, Martin Ungelenk, Christian A Hübner, Joachim H Clement, Andreas Hochhaus, Florian H Heidel.

Mutations of the JAK2 gene are frequent aberrations in the aging hematopoietic system and in myeloid neoplasms. While JAK-inhibitors efficiently reduce hyperinflammation induced by the constitutively active mutated JAK2 kinase, the malignant clone and abundance of mutated cells remains rather unaffected. Here, we sought to assess for genetic vulnerabilities of JAK2-mutated clones. We identified lysine-specific demethylase KDM4C as a selective genetic dependency that persists upon JAK-inhibitor treatment. Genetic inactivation of KDM4C in human and murine JAK2-mutated cells resulted in loss of cell competition and reduced proliferation. These findings led to reduced disease penetrance and improved survival in xenograft models of human JAK2-mutated cells. KDM4C deleted cells showed alterations in target histone residue methylation and target gene expression, resulting in induction of cellular senescence. In summary, these data establish KDM4C as a specific dependency and therapeutic target in JAK2-mutated cells that is essential for oncogenic signaling and prevents induction of senescence.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-022-01611-3
Leuk Res. 2022 May 22. pii: S0145-2126(22)00097-2. [Epub ahead of print]118 106871

Resurgence of myeloproliferative neoplasm in patients in remission from blast transformation after treatment with hypomethylating agents.

Paul Chauvet, Olivier Nibourel, Celine Berthon, Laure Goursaud, Benjamin Carpentier, Pauline Lionne-Huyghe, Mathieu Wemeau, Bruno Quesnel.

  Subsequent blast (BP) or accelerated phase (AP) is a severe complication of Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The prognosis is generally dismal, but hypomethylating agents (HMAs) may induce a long-lasting response in a minority of patients. Here, we report a cohort of six patients with BP/AP-MPN who experienced MPN relapse after a leukemia response was obtained with azacytidine. Five of the patients achieved complete remission despite the presence of characteristics associated with poor prognosis, such as complex and monosomal karyotypes, TP53 mutations, and EVI1 overexpression. These remissions persisted for over five years in four of the 6 patients. All patients showed rapid reemergence of MPN within a median of two months with thrombocytosis requiring the addition of anagrelide, hydroxyurea, or ruxolitinib given continuously in parallel with the azacytidine cycle. Serial JAK2 V617F allelic burden measurements showed little variation. Thromboembolic events occurred in 3 patients, one leading to death. These findings confirm that HMA may reverse the disease course in AP/BP-MPN to a more chronic phase that may last for years but also lead to morbidity and mortality. Combining maintenance therapy with HMA and MPN-specific drugs appears to be a possible approach to avoiding leukemia relapse and controlling MPN disease.

Keywords:  AML; Accelerated phase; JAK2 V617F; Myeloproliferative neoplasm

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leukres.2022.106871
Blood Adv. 2022 May 31. pii: bloodadvances.2022007539. [Epub ahead of print]

Efficacy and Safety of Avapritinib in Previously Treated Patients with Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis.

Andreas Reiter, Juliana Schwaab, Daniel J DeAngelo, Jason R Gotlib, Michael W Deininger, Kristen M Pettit, Iván Álvarez-Twose, Alessandro M Vannucchi, Jens Peter Panse, Uwe Platzbecker, Olivier Hermine, Ingunn Dybedal, Hui-Min Lin, Svetlana N Rylova, Katrin Maria Ehlert, Saša Dimitrijević, Deepti H Radia.

Advanced systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM) is a rare myeloid neoplasm, driven by KIT D816V mutation in >90% of patients. Avapritinib, a potent, highly selective inhibitor of D816V-mutant KIT, is approved for treatment of adults with AdvSM by the US Food and Drug Administration, regardless of prior therapy, and the European Medicines Agency, for patients with prior systemic therapy, based on EXPLORER (NCT02561988) and PATHFINDER (NCT03580655) clinical studies. We present latest pooled efficacy and safety analyses from patients who received ≥1 systemic therapy prior to avapritinib in EXPLORER/PATHFINDER. Overall response rate in response-evaluable patients (n=31) was 71% (95% confidence interval: 52-86%; 22/31), including 19% (6/31) with complete remission (CR)/CR with partial recovery of peripheral blood counts (CRh). Median time to response was 2.3 months; median time to CR/CRh was 7.4 months; median duration of response was not reached. Reductions ≥50% in bone marrow mast cell infiltration (89%), KIT D816V variant allele fraction (66%), serum tryptase (89%), and reductions ≥35% in spleen size (70%) occurred in most patients. With median follow up of 17.7 months, median OS was not reached. Avapritinib was effective in all AdvSM subtypes, regardless of number/type of prior therapies or somatic mutations associated with poor prognosis. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were observed in 94% of patients, most commonly grade 1 or 2; 57% had TRAEs ≥grade 3; 81% remained on treatment at 6 months. Avapritinib in adults with AdvSM who received prior systemic therapy was generally well tolerated with high response rates regardless of prior systemic therapy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007539
Leukemia. 2022 May 28.

Bosutinib versus imatinib for newly diagnosed chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia: final results from the BFORE trial.

BFORE study investigators

This analysis from the multicenter, open-label, phase 3 BFORE trial reports efficacy and safety of bosutinib in patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after five years' follow-up. Patients were randomized to 400-mg once-daily bosutinib (n = 268) or imatinib (n = 268; three untreated). At study completion, 59.7% of bosutinib- and 58.1% of imatinib-treated patients remained on study treatment. Median duration of treatment and time on study was 55 months in both groups. Cumulative major molecular response (MMR) rate by 5 years was higher with bosutinib versus imatinib (73.9% vs. 64.6%; odds ratio, 1.57 [95% CI, 1.08-2.28]), as were cumulative MR4 (58.2% vs. 48.1%; 1.50 [1.07-2.12]) and MR4.5 (47.4% vs. 36.6%; 1.57 [1.11-2.22]) rates. Superior MR with bosutinib versus imatinib was consistent across Sokal risk groups, with greatest benefit seen in patients with high risk. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were consistent with 12-month data. After 5 years of follow-up there was an increase in the incidence of cardiac, effusion, renal, and vascular TEAEs in bosutinib- and imatinib-treated patients, but overall, no new safety signals were identified. These final results support 400-mg once-daily bosutinib as standard-of-care in patients with newly diagnosed CP CML.This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02130557.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-022-01589-y
Exp Hematol. 2022 May 26. pii: S0301-472X(22)00256-9. [Epub ahead of print]

RUNX1 inhibition using lipid nanoparticle-mediated siRNA delivery as an effective treatment for acute leukemias.

Kohei Iida, Akiho Tsuchiya, Moe Tamura, Keita Yamamoto, Shigehisa Kawata, Mitsuko Ishihara-Sugano, Motohiro Kato, Toshio Kitamura, Susumu Goyama.

Transcription factor RUNX1 plays key roles for the establishment and maintenance of the hematopoietic system. Although RUNX1 was considered as a beneficial tumor suppressor, several recent reports have shown the tumor-promoting role of RUNX1 in a variety of hematopoietic neoplasms. In this study, we assessed the effect of RUNX1 depletion in multiple human leukemia cell lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and confirmed that RUNX1 is in fact required for sustaining their leukemic proliferation. To achieve efficient RUNX1 inhibition in leukemia cells, we then examined the effect of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mediated delivery of RUNX1-targeting siRNA using two tumor-tropic LNPs. The LNPs containing RUNX1-targeting siRNA were efficiently incorporated into myeloid and T-cell leukemia cell lines and the patient-derived primary human AML cells, downregulated RUNX1 expression, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and showed the growth-inhibitory effect in them. In contrast, the LNPs were not efficiently incorporated into normal cord blood CD34+ cells, showing minimum cytotoxicity in them. Thus, our study highlights RUNX1 as a potential therapeutic target to inhibit leukemogenesis, and provide the LNP-based siRNA delivery as a promising approach to deplete RUNX1 specifically in leukemia cells.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exphem.2022.05.001
Nature. 2022 Jun 01.

Clonal dynamics of haematopoiesis across the human lifespan.

Emily Mitchell, Michael Spencer Chapman, Nicholas Williams, Kevin J Dawson, Nicole Mende, Emily F Calderbank, Hyunchul Jung, Thomas Mitchell, Tim H H Coorens, David H Spencer, Heather Machado, Henry Lee-Six, Megan Davies, Daniel Hayler, Margarete A Fabre, Krishnaa Mahbubani, Federico Abascal, Alex Cagan, George S Vassiliou, Joanna Baxter, Inigo Martincorena, Michael R Stratton, David G Kent, Krishna Chatterjee, Kourosh Saeb Parsy, Anthony R Green, Jyoti Nangalia, Elisa Laurenti, Peter J Campbell.

Age-related change in human haematopoiesis causes reduced regenerative capacity1, cytopenias2, immune dysfunction3 and increased risk of blood cancer4-6, but the reason for such abrupt functional decline after 70 years of age remains unclear. Here we sequenced 3,579 genomes from single cell-derived colonies of haematopoietic cells across 10 human subjects from 0 to 81 years of age. Haematopoietic stem cells or multipotent progenitors (HSC/MPPs) accumulated a mean of 17 mutations per year after birth and lost 30 base pairs per year of telomere length. Haematopoiesis in adults less than 65 years of age was massively polyclonal, with high clonal diversity and a stable population of 20,000-200,000 HSC/MPPs contributing evenly to blood production. By contrast, haematopoiesis in individuals aged over 75 showed profoundly decreased clonal diversity. In each of the older subjects, 30-60% of haematopoiesis was accounted for by 12-18 independent clones, each contributing 1-34% of blood production. Most clones had begun their expansion before the subject was 40 years old, but only 22% had known driver mutations. Genome-wide selection analysis estimated that between 1 in 34 and 1 in 12 non-synonymous mutations were drivers, accruing at constant rates throughout life, affecting more genes than identified in blood cancers. Loss of the Y chromosome conferred selective benefits in males. Simulations of haematopoiesis, with constant stem cell population size and constant acquisition of driver mutations conferring moderate fitness benefits, entirely explained the abrupt change in clonal structure in the elderly. Rapidly decreasing clonal diversity is a universal feature of haematopoiesis in aged humans, underpinned by pervasive positive selection acting on many more genes than currently identified.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04786-y
Leuk Res. 2022 May 22. pii: S0145-2126(22)00095-9. [Epub ahead of print]118 106869

NPM1-mutated AML-MRC diagnosed on the basis of history of MDS or MDS/MPN frequently harbours secondary-type mutations and confers inferior outcome compared to AML with mutated NPM1.

Davidson Zhao, Mojgan Zarif, Entsar Eladl, José-Mario Capo-Chichi, Adam C Smith, Eshetu G Atenafu, Anne Tierens, Mark D Minden, Andre Schuh, Hong Chang.

   BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) is a prognostically diverse disease. Owing to its favourable prognosis, AML-MRC with mutated NPM1 (NPM1MUT) diagnosed on the basis of multi-lineage dysplasia has been reclassified into "AML with mutated NPM1". However, it remains unclear if NPM1MUT AML with antecedent MDS or MDS/MPN (AML-MRC-H) should also be reclassified into this subentity. The mutational landscape of NPM1MUT AML-MRC-H remains poorly defined.
METHODS: The clinicopathological features, molecular profiles and outcomes of 241 AML-MRC-H and 332 normal karyotype (NK)-AML with mutated NPM1 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Fisher's exact test, chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to compare clinicopathological and molecular features. Overall survival and event-free survival were compared using the log-rank test. Multivariable survival analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards regression.
RESULTS: 33 (14%) AML-MRC-H patients had an NPM1 mutation. By NGS, NPM1MUT AML-MRC-H patients had a significantly higher frequency of secondary-type mutations in U2AF1 and ASXL1 compared to NK-AML with mutated NPM1. NPM1MUT AML-MRC-H was significantly associated with inferior outcomes compared to NK-AML with mutated NPM1. Bone marrow transplantation had a favourable prognostic impact in NPM1MUT AML-MRC-H.
CONCLUSIONS: NPM1MUT AML-MRC-H has inferior prognosis compared to NK-AML with mutated NPM1, likely due to the higher frequency of secondary-type mutations, and thus should still be included in the high-risk subentity of AML-MRC. NPM1MUT AML-MRC patients may benefit from bone marrow transplantation.

Keywords:  AML risk stratification; AML with mutated NPM1; AML-MRC-H; NPM1 mutation; Next-generation sequencing; Secondary-type mutation

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leukres.2022.106869
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2022 Jun 02. e2104823

A Temporal PROTAC Cocktail-Mediated Sequential Degradation of AURKA Abrogates Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells.

Fang Liu, Xuan Wang, Jianli Duan, Zhijie Hou, Zhouming Wu, Lingling Liu, Hanqi Lei, Dan Huang, Yifei Ren, Yue Wang, Xinyan Li, Junxiao Zhuo, Zijian Zhang, Bin He, Min Yan, Huiming Yuan, Lihua Zhang, Jinsong Yan, Shijun Wen, Zifeng Wang, Quentin Liu.

  AURKA is a potential kinase target in various malignancies. The kinase-independent oncogenic functions partially disclose the inadequate efficacy of the kinase inhibitor in a Phase III clinical trial. Simultaneously targeting the catalytic and noncatalytic functions of AURKA may be a feasible approach. Here, a set of AURKA proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are developed. The CRBN-based dAurA383 preferentially degrades the highly abundant mitotic AURKA, while cIAP-based dAurA450 degrades the lowly abundant interphase AURKA in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. The proteomic and transcriptomic analyses indicate that dAurA383 triggers the "mitotic cell cycle" and "stem cell" processes, while dAurA450 inhibits the "MYC/E2F targets" and "stem cell" processes. dAurA383 and dAurA450 are combined as a PROTAC cocktail. The cocktail effectively degrades AURKA, relieves the hook effect, and synergistically inhibits AML stem cells. Furthermore, the PROTAC cocktail induces AML regression in a xenograft mouse model and primary patient blasts. These findings establish the PROTAC cocktail as a promising spatial-temporal drug administration strategy to sequentially eliminate the multifaceted functions of oncoproteins, relieve the hook effect, and prevent cancer stem cell-mediated drug resistance.

Keywords:  Aurora kinase A (AURKA); E3 ubiquitin ligase; PROTAC cocktail; acute myeloid leukemia stem cells

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202104823
Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2022 Jun 02. 1-10

Acute myeloid leukemia: therapeutic targeting of stem cells.

Cindy M Pabon, Hussein A Abbas, Marina Konopleva.

   INTRODUCTION: Despite advances in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), long-term survival remains low. In 1994, it was proposed that leukemic stem cells (LSCs) played a key role in relapsed and refractory disease. LSCs are capable of self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, immune evasion, and drug resistance through several unique mechanisms. More recent leukemia drug development initiatives have included efforts to target LSCs. With LSCs, the challenge with such drug design is finding a way to selectively target LSCs while sparing normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
AREAS COVERED: In this review, we explore the evolving knowledge of the unique LSC biology and physiology in the scientific literature, while noting the several agents that have been designed throughout the years to target this subgroup of leukemic cells. Our review includes discussion on chimeric antigen receptor T cells, monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates against cell surface markers, signaling pathway targets, pro-apoptotic agents, epigenetic regulators, and more.
EXPERT OPINION: As our understanding of the intricate pathophysiology of LSCs continues to grow, it is clear that targeting such heterogenous cells successfully will require a thoughtful and multi-modal approach.

Keywords:  Leukemic stem cell; acute myeloid leukemia; hematopoiesis; targeted therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/14728222.2022.2083957
Leuk Res. 2022 May 19. pii: S0145-2126(22)00087-X. [Epub ahead of print]118 106861

Validation of a new NGS-based myeloid panel in acute myeloid leukemia: A single-center experience.

Carolina Steidl, Andrea Aroldi, Luca Mologni, Ilaria Crespiatico, Diletta Fontana, Cristina Mastini, Monica Fumagalli, Paola Perfetti, Lorenza Borin, Claudia Valentini, Rocco Piazza, Carlo Gambacorti-Passerini.

  Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) identifies a heterogeneous group of clonal disorders, both clinically and genetically. A large number of mutations have been described in AML, although only a few are currently employed in clinical practice. Next generation sequencing (NGS) allows for better understanding of the complex genetic background in AML and may direct individualized therapies. In this study, we aim to identify molecular aberrations that are not routinely investigated in AML using an NGS-based panel encompassing 101 genes and to evaluate how their oncogenic potential correlates with survival. Forty consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AML were enrolled between January 2018 and April 2020. We performed targeted NGS and detected 96 mutations in 36 patients (90%), while 14 fusion genes were detected in 13 patients (32%). Each mutation was weighed using OncoScore, a text-mining tool ranking genes according to their oncogenic potential. An OncoScore ≥ 100 was associated with shorter PFS among our patients (p = 0.05). In 11 patients with no available MRD markers at diagnosis, we were able to perform NGS-based MRD monitoring using targeted deep sequencing. Overall, our study shows that NGS is a powerful tool in AML and should be employed both in routine diagnostic workup and follow up.

Keywords:  Acute myeloid leukemia; Minimal residual disease; Mutation; Next generation sequencing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leukres.2022.106861
Bone Marrow Transplant. 2022 May 28.

Long-term outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia and other high-risk myeloid malignancies after undergoing sequential conditioning regimen based on IDA-FLAG and high-dose melphalan.

Francesca Guijarro, Alex Bataller, Marina Diaz-Beyá, Ana Garrido, Christelle Coll-Ferrà, Susana Vives, Olga Salamero, David Valcárcel, Mar Tormo, Montserrat Arnan, Antònia Sampol, Sandra Castaño-Díez, Carmen Martínez, María Suárez-Lledó, Francesc Fernández-Avilés, Juan Carlos Hernández-Boluda, Josep Maria Ribera, Montserrat Rovira, Salut Brunet, Jorge Sierra, Jordi Esteve.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) remains the only curative option for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia and other high-risk myeloid malignancies. To improve alloHCT results in this setting, sequential regimens were designed as a strategy to lower tumor burden and quickly induce the graft-versus-leukemia effect. We analyzed long-term outcomes of a sequential regimen based on IDA-FLAG and high-dose melphalan, as set forth by the CETLAM cooperative group. This protocol yielded a high complete response rate (89%) and a lower cumulative relapse incidence (30% at five years) compared to other regimens. Five-year non-relapse mortality, however, reached 45%, with grade 3-4 acute graft-versus-host disease being the most frequent adverse event (a 100-day incidence of 29%). Altogether, 5-year overall survival was 25% in this group of patients with otherwise dismal prognosis. Long-term survivors enjoyed a good quality of life after a median follow-up of 68 months.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-022-01703-9
Leukemia. 2022 Jun 01.

Predictive scoring systems for molecular responses in persons with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia receiving initial imatinib therapy.

Xiao-Shuai Zhang, Robert Peter Gale, Zi-Yu Li, Meng-Yu Zhang, Xiao-Jun Huang, Qian Jiang.

It is vital for physicians and persons with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) to accurately predict the likelihood of achieving a major molecular response (MMR) and a deep molecular response (DMR; at least MR4) at the start of imatinib-therapy, which could help in decision making of treatment goals and strategies. To answer this question, we interrogated data from 1369 consecutive subjects with chronic phase CML receiving initial imatinib-therapy to identify predictive co-variates. Subjects were randomly-assigned to training (n = 913) and validation (n = 456) datasets. Male sex, higher WBC concentration, lower haemoglobin concentration, higher percentage blood blasts and larger spleen size were significantly-associated with lower cumulative incidences of MMR and MR4 in training dataset. Using Fine-Gray model, we developed the predictive scoring systems for MMR and MR4 which classified subjects into the low-, intermediate- and high-risk cohorts with significantly-different cumulative incidences of MMR and MR4 with good predictive discrimination and accuracy in training and validation cohorts with high area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUROC) values. These data may help physicians decide appropriateness of initial imatinib therapy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-022-01616-y
Eur J Haematol. 2022 May 30.

Efficacy of conventional-dose cytarabine, idarubicin and thioguanine (IAT) versus intermediate-dose cytarabine and idarubicin (IdAraC-Ida) in the induction treatment of AML: long-term results of the prospective randomized nationwide AML-2003 study by the Finnish Leukemia Group.

Finnish Leukemia Group

   OBJECTIVES: AML-2003 study sought to compare the long-term efficacy and safety of IAT and IdAraC-Ida in induction chemotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and introduce the results of an integrated genetic and clinical risk classification guided treatment strategy.
METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive either IAT or IdAraC-Ida as the first induction treatment. Intensified post-remission strategies were employed based on measurable residual disease (MRD) and risk classification. Structured questionnaire forms were used to gather data prospectively.
RESULTS: A total of 356 AML patients with a median age of 53 years participated in the study. Long term overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were both 49 % at 10 years. The median follow-up was 114 months. No significant difference in remission rate, OS or RFS was observed between the two induction treatments. Risk classification according to the protocol, MRD after the first and the last consolidation treatment affected the OS and RFS significantly (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Intensified cytarabine dose in the first induction treatment was not better than IAT in patients with AML. Intensification of post-remission treatment in patients with clinical risk factors or MRD seems reasonable, but randomized controlled studies are warranted in the future.

Keywords:  AML; allogeneic stem cell transplant; induction chemotherapy; long-term follow-up; measurable residual disease; nationwide; randomized; survival

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/ejh.13805
Blood. 2022 Jun 02. pii: blood.2021014853. [Epub ahead of print]

p57Kip2 regulates embryonic blood stem cells by controlling sympathoadrenal progenitor expansion.

Chrysa Kapeni, Leslie Nitsche, Alastair M Kilpatrick, Nicola K Wilson, Kankan Xia, Bahar Mirshelar-Syahkal, Vashe Chandrakanthan, Camille Malouf, John E Pimanda, Berthold Gottgens, Kristina Kirschner, Simon Tomlinson, Katrin Ottersbach.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are of major clinical importance, and finding methods for their in vitro generation is a prime research focus. We demonstrate here that the cell cycle inhibitor p57Kip2/Cdkn1c limits the number of emerging HSCs by restricting the size of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the amount of HSC-supportive catecholamines secreted by these cells. This regulation occurs at the SNS progenitor level and is in contrast to the cell-intrinsic function of p57Kip2 in maintaining adult HSCs, highlighting profound differences in cell cycle requirements of adult HSCs compared with their embryonic counterparts. Furthermore, this effect is specific to the aorta-gonads-mesonephros (AGM) region and shows that the AGM is the main contributor to early fetal liver colonization, as early fetal liver HSC numbers are equally affected. Using a range of antagonists in vivo, we demonstrate a requirement for intact b2-adrenergic signaling for SNS-dependent HSC expansion. To gain further molecular insights, we have generated a single-cell RNA-Seq dataset of all Ngfr+ sympathoadrenal cells around the dorsal aorta to dissect their differentiation pathway. Importantly, this not only defined the relevant p57Kip2-expressing SNS progenitor stage, but also revealed that some neural crest cells, upon arrival at the aorta, are able to take an alternative differentiation pathway, giving rise to a subset of ventrally restricted mesenchymal cells that express important HSC-supportive factors. Neural crest cells thus appear to contribute to the AGM HSC niche via two different mechanisms: SNS-mediated catecholamine secretion and HSC-supportive mesenchymal cell production.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2021014853
Nat Med. 2022 May 30.

In utero origin of myelofibrosis presenting in adult monozygotic twins.

Nikolaos Sousos, Máire Ní Leathlobhair, Christina Simoglou Karali, Eleni Louka, Nicola Bienz, Daniel Royston, Sally-Ann Clark, Angela Hamblin, Kieran Howard, Vikram Mathews, Biju George, Anindita Roy, Bethan Psaila, David C Wedge, Adam J Mead.

The latency between acquisition of an initiating somatic driver mutation by a single-cell and clinical presentation with cancer is largely unknown. We describe a remarkable case of monozygotic twins presenting with CALR mutation-positive myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) (aged 37 and 38 years), with a clinical phenotype of primary myelofibrosis. The CALR mutation was absent in T cells and dermal fibroblasts, confirming somatic acquisition. Whole-genome sequencing lineage tracing revealed a common clonal origin of the CALR-mutant MPN clone, which occurred in utero followed by twin-to-twin transplacental transmission and subsequent similar disease latency. Index sorting and single-colony genotyping revealed phenotypic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as the likely MPN-propagating cell. Furthermore, neonatal blood spot analysis confirmed in utero origin of the JAK2V617F mutation in a patient presenting with polycythemia vera (aged 34 years). These findings provide a unique window into the prolonged evolutionary dynamics of MPNs and fitness advantage exerted by MPN-associated driver mutations in HSCs.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-01793-4
Blood. 2022 May 31. pii: blood.2021014698. [Epub ahead of print]

PLAG1 dampens protein synthesis to promote human hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal.

Ava Keyvani Chahi, Muluken S Belew, Joshua Xu, He Tian Tony Chen, Stefan Rentas, Veronique Voisin, Gabriela Krivdova, Eric R Lechman, Sajid A Marhon, Daniel De Carvalho, John E Dick, Gary D Bader, Kristin Hope.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) dormancy is understood as supportive of HSC function and their long-term integrity. While regulation of stress responses incurred as a result of HSC activation is recognized as important in maintaining stem cell function, little is understood of the preventative machinery present in human HSCs that may serve to resist their activation and promote HSC self-renewal. We demonstrate that the transcription factor PLAG1 is essential for long-term HSC function and when overexpressed endows a 15.6-fold enhancement in the frequency of functional HSC in stimulatory conditions. Genome-wide measures of chromatin occupancy and PLAG1-directed gene expression changes combined with functional measures reveal that PLAG1 dampens protein synthesis, restrains cell growth and division, and enhances survival, with the primitive cell advantages it imparts being attenuated by addition of the potent translation activator, c-MYC. We find PLAG1 capitalizes on multiple regulatory factors to ensure protective diminished protein synthesis including 4EBP1 and translation-targeting miR-127, and does so independently of stress response signaling. Overall, our study identifies PLAG1 as an enforcer of human HSC dormancy and self-renewal through its highly context-specific regulation of protein biosynthesis, and classifies PLAG1 among a rare set of bona fide regulators of mRNA translation in these cells. Our findings showcase the importance of regulated translation control underlying human HSC physiology, its dysregulation under activating demands, and the potential if its targeting for therapeutic benefit.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2021014698
Leuk Res. 2022 May 17. pii: S0145-2126(22)00086-8. [Epub ahead of print]118 106860

Differential characteristics of TP53 alterations in pure erythroid leukemia arising after exposure to cytotoxic therapy.

Mehrnoosh Tashakori, Wei Wang, Tapan M Kadia, Naval G Daver, Guillermo Montalban-Bravo, Sanam Loghavi, Sa A Wang, L Jeffrey Medeiros, Farhad Ravandi, Joseph D Khoury.

  Pure erythroid leukemia (PEL) is a rare acute leukemia with a dismal prognosis. TP53 mutations are a dominant feature of PEL, but the characteristics of TP53 alterations in PEL without prior exposure to cytotoxic therapy (d-PEL) or with such exposure (t-PEL) is unknown. We studied 25 patients with TP53-mutated PEL including 16 d-PEL and 9 t-PEL. Both groups had comparable clinical findings and overall survival. The TP53 mutation, commonly missense, was present in the dominant clone in all cases. In the d-PEL group, 10/16 (62.5%) had one TP53 mutation compared to 8/9 (89%) patients in the t-PEL group. In the d-PEL group, 9/16 (56.2%) patients had hotspot mutations compared to 2 (22.2%) patients in the t-PEL group. Notably, monosomy 17 or del(17p) were less common in the d-PEL group (26.6%) compared to the t-PEL group (71.4%), underscoring distinctive TP53 alterations in d-PEL versus t-PEL, possibly reflecting different fitness advantages.

Keywords:  Copy number loss; Mutation; Pure erythroid leukemia; Selection pressure; TP53

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leukres.2022.106860
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2022 Jun 02. pii: cebp.EPI-21-1296-A.2021. [Epub ahead of print]

Clonal hematopoiesis and mosaicism revealed by a multi-tissue analysis of constitutional TP53 Status.

Danielle Castillo, Tze-An Yuan, Bita Nehoray, Aleck Cervantes, Kevin K Tsang, Kai Yang, Sharon R Sand, Janet Mokhnatkin, Josef Herzog, Thomas P Slavin, Sophie Hyman, Alison Schwartz, Benjamin L Ebert, Christopher I Amos, Judy E Garber, Jeffrey N Weitzel.

BACKGROUND: Though germline TP53 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants (PV) are associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, many detected by multigene panels represent aberrant clonal expansion (ACE), most due to clonal hematopoiesis (CH). Discerning ACE/CH from germline variants and post-zygotic mosaicism (PZM) is critically needed for risk assessment and management.
METHODS: Participants in the Li Fraumeni & TP53 Understanding & Progress (LiFT UP) study with a TP53 PV were eligible. Demographics, personal/family cancer history and clinical laboratory test reports were obtained. DNA from multiple tissues was analyzed using a custom QIAseq® assay (ACE panel) that included TP53 and other CH-associated genes; the ACE panel and eyebrow follicles were assessed in a workflow to discern TP53 PV clinical categories.
RESULTS: Among 134 participants there was a significant difference for the age at diagnosis (p=<0.001), component cancers (p=0.007), and clinical testing criteria (p=<0.001), comparing germline vs PZM or ACE. ACE panel analysis of DNA from 55 sets of eyebrow follicles (mean 1.4 ug) and 36 formalin-fixed paraffin imbedded tissues demonstrated low variance (standard error 3%; p = 0.993) for TP53 variant allele fraction, with no significant difference (p=0.965) between tissue types, and detected CH gene PVs. Of 55 multi-tissue cases, germline status was confirmed for 20, PZM in 7, ACE for 25 and 3 were indeterminate. Additional CH variants were detected in 6 ACE and 2 germline cases.
CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated an effective approach and tools for discerning germline TP53 status.
IMPACT: Discernment of PZM and TP53-driven CH increases diagnostic accuracy and enables risk-appropriate care.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-1296
Nature. 2022 Jun 01.

Blood's life history traced through genomic scars.

Aswin Sekar, Benjamin L Ebert.



Keywords:  Ageing; Genetics; Stem cells

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-01304-y
Br J Haematol. 2022 Jun 02.

Impaired humoral and cellular response to primary COVID-19 vaccination in patients less than two years post allogeneic bone marrow transplant.

Sam M Murray, Maria Barbanti, Cori Campbell, Anthony Brown, Lucia Chen, Jay Dhanapal, Bing Tseu, Omer Pervaiz, Louis Peters, Sally Springett, Robert Danby, Sandra Adele, Eloise Phillips, Tom Malone, Ali Amini, Lizzie Stafford, Alexandra S Deeks, Susanna Dunachie, Paul Klenerman, Andrew Peniket, Eleanor Barnes, Murali Kesavan.

  Allogeneic transplant recipients (HCT) remain at high risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19 and emerging variants. The optimal prophylactic vaccine strategy for this cohort is not defined. T-cell mediated immunity is a critical component of graft-versus-tumour effect and in determining vaccine immunogenicity. Using validated anti-spike IgG and spike specific IFNγ ELISpot assays we analysed response to a two-dose vaccination schedule (either BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1) in 33 HCT recipients ≤2 years from transplant, alongside vaccine matched healthy controls (HC). After two vaccines, infection naïve HCT recipients had a significantly lower rate of seroconversion compared to infection naïve healthy controls (25/32 HCT vs 39/39 HC no responders) and had lower spike specific T-cell responses. HCT Patients who received BNT162b2 had a higher rate of seroconversion compared to ChAdOx1 (89% versus 74%) and significantly higher anti-S IgG titres (p = 0.022). Spike specific T cell responses were seen after one vaccine in HC and HCT patients. However, two vaccines enhanced spike specific T-cell responses in HC but not in the majority of HCT patients. These data demonstrate limited immunogenicity of two-dose vaccination strategies in HCT recipients, bolstering evidence of the need for additional boosters and /or alternative prophylactic measures in this group.

Keywords:  BNT162b2; COVID-19; ChAdOx1; HCT; HSCT; SARS-CoV-2; T-cell response; Vaccines; allogeneic bone marrow transplant

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.18312
Blood. 2022 Jun 02. pii: blood.2021014945. [Epub ahead of print]

Recurrent non-coding somatic and germline WT1 variants converge to disrupt MYB binding in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Huan Song, Yabin Liu, Yun Tan, Yi Zhang, Wen Jin, Li Chen, Shishuang Wu, Jinsong Yan, Junmin Li, Zhu Chen, Sai-Juan Chen, Kankan Wang.

Genetic alternations can occur at non-coding regions, but how they contribute to cancer pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here we established a mutational landscape of cis-regulatory regions (CREs) in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) based on whole-genome sequencing analysis of paired tumor and germline samples from 24 patients and epigenetic profiling of 16 patients. Mutations occurring in CREs occur preferentially in active enhancers bound by the complex of master transcription factors in APL. Among significantly enriched mutated CREs, we found a recurrently mutated region located within the third intron of WT1, an essential regulator of normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Focusing on non-coding mutations within this WT1 intron, an analysis on 169 APL patients revealed that somatic mutations were clustered into a focal hotspot region, including one site identified as a germline polymorphism contributing to APL risk. Significantly decreased WT1 expression was observed in APL patients bearing somatic and/or germline non-coding WT1 variants. Furthermore, biallelic WT1 inactivation was recurrently found in APL patients with non-coding WT1 variants, which resulted in the complete loss of WT1. The high incidence of biallelic inactivation suggested the tumor suppressor activity of WT1 in APL. Mechanistically, non-coding WT1 variants disrupted MYB binding on chromatin and suppressed the enhancer activity and WT1 expression through destroying the chromatin looping formation. Our study highlights the essential role of non-coding variants in the leukemogenesis of APL.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2021014945
Ann Hematol. 2022 Jun 01.

Outcome prediction of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in children.

Wing-Yan Leung, Daniel Ka-Leung Cheuk, Frankie Wai-Tsoi Cheng, Alex Wing-Kwan Leung, Ka-Ho Chiu, Karin Kar-Huen Ho, Chak-Ho Li, Godfrey Chi-Fung Chan.

  We evaluated the feasibility of existing risk assessment tools for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in children. Fifty-five patients with newly diagnosed CML between 1996 and 2019 were included. Forty-nine patients presented in chronic phase, thirty-six of whom were treated with upfront tyrosine kinase inhibitor (CP-TKI group); one presented in accelerated phase and four in blastic phase. Treatment, survival, responses, and tolerance were evaluated. All patients in the CP-TKI group received imatinib as their first TKI treatment. The 10-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and event-free survival (EFS) of TKI-treated group was 97%, 91.4%, and 72.3%, respectively. At 60 months, the rates of major molecular response were 81.2% and deep molecular response was 67.5%. The EUTOS long-term survival (ELTS) risk grouping did not predict OS, PFS, or EFS. The IMAFAIL risk groups were correlated with the risk of imatinib failure. Further studies are required to modify the existing risk assessment tools for children.

Keywords:  Children; Chronic myeloid leukemia; Outcome; Risk assessment tools; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-022-04852-5
Elife. 2022 May 30. pii: e72359. [Epub ahead of print]11

Constitutive loss of DNMT3A causes morbid obesity through misregulation of adipogenesis.

Ayala Tovy, Jaime M Reyes, Linda Zhang, Yung-Hsin Huang, Carina Rosas, Alexes C Daquinag, Anna Guzman, Raghav Ramabadran, Chun-Wei Chen, Tianpeng Gu, Sinjini Gupta, Laura Ortinau, Dongsu Park, Aaron R Cox, Rachel E Rau, Sean M Hartig, Mikhail G Kolonin, Margaret A Goodell.

  DNA Methyltransferase 3 A (DNMT3A) is an important facilitator of differentiation of both embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells. Heterozygous germline mutations in DNMT3A lead to Tatton-Brown-Rahman Syndrome (TBRS), characterized by obesity and excessive height. While DNMT3A is known to impact feeding behavior via the hypothalamus, here we investigated a role in adipocyte progenitors utilizing heterozygous knockout mice that recapitulate cardinal TBRS phenotypes. These mice become morbidly obese due to adipocyte enlargement and tissue expansion. Adipose tissue in these mice exhibited defects in preadipocyte maturation and precocious activation of inflammatory gene networks, including interleukin-6 signaling. Adipocyte progenitor cell lines lacking DNMT3A exhibited aberrant differentiation. Furthermore, mice in which Dnmt3a was specifically ablated in adipocyte progenitors showed enlarged fat depots and increased progenitor numbers, partly recapitulating the TBRS obesity phenotypes. Loss of DNMT3A led to constitutive DNA hypomethylation, such that the DNA methylation landscape of young adipocyte progenitors resemble that of older wild-type mice. Together, our results demonstrate that DNMT3A coordinates both the central and local control of energy storage required to maintain normal weight and prevent inflammatory obesity.

Keywords:  CpG; DNA methylation; DNMT3A; Obesity; adipose; developmental biology; epigenetics; mouse; regenerative medicine; stem cells

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.72359
Nature. 2022 Jun 01.

Stromal changes in the aged lung induce an emergence from melanoma dormancy.

Mitchell E Fane, Yash Chhabra, Gretchen M Alicea, Devon A Maranto, Stephen M Douglass, Marie R Webster, Vito W Rebecca, Gloria E Marino, Filipe Almeida, Brett L Ecker, Daniel J Zabransky, Laura Hüser, Thomas Beer, Hsin-Yao Tang, Andrew Kossenkov, Meenhard Herlyn, David W Speicher, Wei Xu, Xiaowei Xu, Elizabeth M Jaffee, Julio A Aguirre-Ghiso, Ashani T Weeraratna.

Disseminated cancer cells from primary tumours can seed in distal tissues, but may take several years to form overt metastases, a phenomenon that is termed tumour dormancy. Despite its importance in metastasis and residual disease, few studies have been able to successfully characterize dormancy within melanoma. Here we show that the aged lung microenvironment facilitates a permissive niche for efficient outgrowth of dormant disseminated cancer cells-in contrast to the aged skin, in which age-related changes suppress melanoma growth but drive dissemination. These microenvironmental complexities can be explained by the phenotype switching model, which argues that melanoma cells switch between a proliferative cell state and a slower-cycling, invasive state1-3. It was previously shown that dermal fibroblasts promote phenotype switching in melanoma during ageing4-8. We now identify WNT5A as an activator of dormancy in melanoma disseminated cancer cells within the lung, which initially enables the efficient dissemination and seeding of melanoma cells in metastatic niches. Age-induced reprogramming of lung fibroblasts increases their secretion of the soluble WNT antagonist sFRP1, which inhibits WNT5A in melanoma cells and thereby enables efficient metastatic outgrowth. We also identify the tyrosine kinase receptors AXL and MER as promoting a dormancy-to-reactivation axis within melanoma cells. Overall, we find that age-induced changes in distal metastatic microenvironments promote the efficient reactivation of dormant melanoma cells in the lung.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04774-2
Cancer Discov. 2022 Jun 02. 12(6): 1410-1412

Epigenetic Regulation to Enhance Graft-versus-Leukemia Activity.

Natalie Köhler, Robert Zeiser.

SUMMARY: Accumulating evidence supports that loss of HLA expression contributes to relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), but the mechanisms behind this evasion strategy are unclear. The groups of Luca Vago and Raffaella Di Micco identified the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) as a key epigenetic driver of immune escape after allo-HCT by reducing the chromatin accessibility of HLA class II molecules, which could be targeted by pharmacologic inhibition of PRC2 subunits. See related article by Gambacorta et al., p. 1449 (10).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-22-0329
Oncologist. 2022 03 04. 27(2): 149-157

FDA Approval Summary: Revised Indication and Dosing Regimen for Ponatinib Based on the Results of the OPTIC Trial.

E Dianne Pulte, Haiyan Chen, Lauren S L Price, Ramadevi Gudi, Hongshan Li, Olanrewaju O Okusanya, Lian Ma, Lisa Rodriguez, Jonathon Vallejo, Kelly J Norsworthy, R Angelo de Claro, Marc R Theoret, Richard Pazdur.

  On December 18, 2020, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a supplemental application for ponatinib extending the indication in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) to patients with resistance or intolerance of at least 2 prior kinase inhibitors. Ponatinib was initially approved in December 2012 but was briefly voluntarily withdrawn due to serious safety concerns including the risk of arterial occlusive events (AOE). It returned to the market in December 2013 with an indication limited to patients with T315I mutation or for whom no other tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy was indicated with revised warnings and precautions. A post-marketing requirement was issued to identify the optimal safe and effective dose for CP-CML. Thus, the OPTIC trial was performed, which randomized patients to 1 of 3 doses, 45 mg, 30 mg, or 15 mg, with a dose reduction to 15 mg on achievement of MR2 (BCR-ABLIS ≤1%). Patients enrolled were treated with at least 2 prior TKIs or had a T315I mutation. Patients with a history of clinically significant, uncontrolled, or active cardiovascular disease were excluded. Efficacy was established on an interim analysis based on the rate of MR2 at 12 months in the modified intent-to-treat population of 261 patients, with 88, 86, and 87 patients in the 45, 30, and 15 mg cohorts, respectively. With a median follow-up of 28 months, the rate of achievement of MR2 at 12 months was 42%, 28%, and 24% in the respective cohorts. The safety profile was consistent with that observed in prior evaluations of ponatinib with notable adverse reactions including pancreatitis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, liver dysfunction, and AOE. Of patients treated at the 45/15 mg dose, AOEs were seen in 13%, with a higher rate being observed in patients age 65 or older compared to younger patients. A readjudication of AOEs seen on the prior pivotal phase 2 study resulted in a rate of 26%. Overall, the results supported a modification of the recommended dose for patients with CP-CML to 45 mg until the achievement of MR2 followed by a reduction to 15 mg. The expansion of the indication to patients with exposure to 2 prior TKIs was approved given data showing that ponatinib could be successfully used for the treatment of this population with appropriate monitoring and screening for risk factors.

Keywords:  FDA approval; chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia; ponatinib

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/oncolo/oyab040