Project description:AML/MDS patients carrying 11q amplifications involving the mixed lineage leukemia gene (MLL) locus are characterized by a later onset, a complex aberrant karyotype (CAK) frequently including deletions within 5q, 17p and 7q, as well as fast progression of the disease with extremely poor prognosis. We and other have shown that the MLL gene is over expressed in amplified cases, however, in most of the cases the amplified region is not restricted to the MLL locus. In the present study we investigated 19 patients with AML/MDS and MLL gain/amplification [15 AML (two secondary, following MDS and PV, and three therapy related) and 4 MDS cases (two therapy related)]. By means of array CGH performed in 12 patients (GSE9928) we were able to delineate the minimal deleted regions within 5q, 17p and 7q and identified three independent regions 11q/I-III that were amplified in all cases. Gene expression profiles established in 15 cases were used to define the candidate genes within these regions. Interestingly, analysis of our data suggests an interdependency of genes influenced by losses of 5q and 17p and expression of genes present in 11q23-25. Additionally, we demonstrate that the gene expression signature can be used to discriminate AML/MDS with MLL amplification from all other types of AML, thus, indicating specific pathogenesis present in this entity. Experiment Overall Design: In this study, gene expression profiling performed for 15 AML patients. Experiment Overall Design: aCGH analysis performed on 12 DNA samples derived from patients with AML, preselected for the presence of MLL amplifications, were analysed on a submegabase resolution BAC array. No replicates, no dye swap was done (GSE9928).
Project description:AML/MDS patients carrying 11q amplifications involving the mixed lineage leukemia gene (MLL) locus are characterized by a later onset, a complex aberrant karyotype (CAK) frequently including deletions within 5q, 17p and 7q, as well as fast progression of the disease with extremely poor prognosis. We and other have shown that the MLL gene is over expressed in amplified cases, however, in most of the cases the amplified region is not restricted to the MLL locus. In the present study we investigated 19 patients with AML/MDS and MLL gain/amplification [15 AML (two secondary, following MDS and PV, and three therapy related) and 4 MDS cases (two therapy related)]. By means of array CGH performed in 12 patients (GSE9928) we were able to delineate the minimal deleted regions within 5q, 17p and 7q and identified three independent regions 11q/I-III that were amplified in all cases. Gene expression profiles established in 15 cases were used to define the candidate genes within these regions. Interestingly, analysis of our data suggests an interdependency of genes influenced by losses of 5q and 17p and expression of genes present in 11q23-25. Additionally, we demonstrate that the gene expression signature can be used to discriminate AML/MDS with MLL amplification from all other types of AML, thus, indicating specific pathogenesis present in this entity. Keywords: AML patients, tumor stratification
Project description:AML/MDS patients carrying 11q amplifications involving the mixed lineage leukemia gene (MLL) locus are characterized by a complex aberrant karyotype (CAK) frequently including deletions within 5q, 17p and 7q, a later onset and fast progression of the disease with extremely poor prognosis. We and others have shown that the MLL gene is overexpressed in amplified cases; however, in most of the cases the amplified region is not restricted to the MLL locus. In the present study we investigated 19 patients with AML/MDS and MLL gain/amplification. By means of array CGH performed in 12 patients we were able to delineate the minimal deleted regions within 5q, 17p and 7q and identified three independent regions 11q/I-III that were amplified in all cases. Gene expression profiles established in 15 cases (GSE10258) were used to define candidate genes within these regions. Interestingly, analysis of our data suggests an interdependency of loss of 5q and 17p and expression of genes present in 11q23-25. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the gene expression signature can be used to discriminate AML/MDS with MLL amplification from several other types of AML, thus, indicating specific pathogenesis present in this entity. Keywords: comparative genomic hybridization; array CGH
Project description:AML/MDS patients carrying 11q amplifications involving the mixed lineage leukemia gene (MLL) locus are characterized by a complex aberrant karyotype (CAK) frequently including deletions within 5q, 17p and 7q, a later onset and fast progression of the disease with extremely poor prognosis. We and others have shown that the MLL gene is overexpressed in amplified cases; however, in most of the cases the amplified region is not restricted to the MLL locus. In the present study we investigated 19 patients with AML/MDS and MLL gain/amplification. By means of array CGH performed in 12 patients we were able to delineate the minimal deleted regions within 5q, 17p and 7q and identified three independent regions 11q/I-III that were amplified in all cases. Gene expression profiles established in 15 cases (GSE10258) were used to define candidate genes within these regions. Interestingly, analysis of our data suggests an interdependency of loss of 5q and 17p and expression of genes present in 11q23-25. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the gene expression signature can be used to discriminate AML/MDS with MLL amplification from several other types of AML, thus, indicating specific pathogenesis present in this entity. Keywords: comparative genomic hybridization; array CGH In this study, aCGH analysis performed on 12 DNA samples derived from patients with AML, preselected for the presence of MLL amplifications, were analysed on a submegabase resolution BAC array. No replicates, no dye swap was done. Gene expression profiling performed for 15 AML patients (GSE10258).
Project description:The MLL-PTD mutation is found in patients with MDS and AML, and not in other hematological malignancies. Previously, we showed that Mll-PTD knock-in heterozygous mice (MllPTD/WT mice) present with several MDS-associated features. However, these phenotypes are insufficient to constitute bona fide MDS. MllPTD/WT mice do not generate MDS or AML in primary or transplant recipient mice. This suggests that additional genetic and/or epigenetic defects are necessary for transformation to MDS or AML. In secondary AML and de novo AML, MLL-PTD mutation is significantly associated with mutations in RUNX1 and with the FLT3-ITD mutations. In fact, the combination of MLL-PTD with the FLT3-ITD allele leads to AML in mice. We combined the MLL-PTD with RUNX1 mutant proteins, in order to generate a new mouse model for MDS. We generated MllPTD/WT/Runx1Flox/Flox/Mx1-Cre mice to model loss-of-function RUNX1 mutations. To test the significance of HIF-1α in this model, we also generated MllPTD/WT/Runx1Flox/Flox/Hif-1αFlox/Flox/Mx1-Cre mice and genetically eliminated Hif-1α expression. We analyzed gene expression variations in the HSPCs comparing the MllPTD/WT/Runx1∆/∆ with or without HIF-1α abrogation.
Project description:The MLL-PTD mutation is found in patients with MDS and AML, and not in other haematological malignancies. Previously, we showed that Mll-PTD knock-in heterozygous mice present with several MDS-associated features, such as increased self-renewal and apoptosis in HSPCs, expansion of the myeloid progenitor population, ineffective haematopoiesis, and skewed myeloid differentiation. MLL is an epigenetic regulator: its C-terminal Su[var]3–9, enhancer of zeste, trithorax (SET) domain has methyltransferase activity on lysine 4 on histone 3 (H3K4), which is retained in the MLL-PTD mutant. To clarify the effects of MLL-PTD on target gene regulation, we performed H3K4me3 ChIP-Seq analysis of LSKs isolated from WT and Mll-PTD knock-in heterozygous mice.
Project description:Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders of hematopoietic progenitors characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and high propensity to leukemias. Although a number of gene targets have been identified, in many MDS cases, particular genetic targets are unknown. In this study, we performed genome-wide profiling of copy number (CN) abnormalities and allelic imbalances in MDS genomes in order to clarify the distribution of LOH (loss of heterozygosity) and identify their target genes. We analyzed a total of 171MDS and MDS/MPD specimens, including 7 RA/RARS, 23 RCMD/RCMD-RS, 6 5q-syndrome, 30 RAEB-1, 40 RAEB-2, 4 therapy related-MDS/AML, 5 MDSu, 17 CMML-1, 16 CMML-2, 24 overt AML, using high-density SNP arrays. The data were analyzed by CNAG/AsCNAR software we specifically developed for allele-specific CN analysis and sensitive LOH detection. MDS showed characteristic CN profiles in SNP array analysis. Of particular interest is the finding of high frequency of CN-neutral LOH (Uniparental disomy,UPD), which were observed in 51 of 171 (30%) MDS cases. They preferentially involved 1p, 1q, 4q, 7q, 11q, 17p and other chromosomal segments, which were associated with homozygous mutations of both loss-of-function mutations and gain-of function mutations of tumor suppressor genes and cellular oncogenes, including TP53 (17p UPD), AML1/RUNX1 (21q UPD), Nras and cMPL (1p UPD), JAK-2 (9p UPD), and FLT3 (13q UPD). Next we tried to identify a new gene target in 11q UPD, which was most common UPD region in this study and many of these cases were CMML with a normal karyotype. The minimum 11q UPD segment is about 2Mb which existed in 11q23. We sequenced coding exons of c-cbl and detected homozygous mutations in 8 of 9 MDS cases with 11q UPD (CMML= 5, RAEB= 3, overt leukemia= 1), but very rare in cases without 11q UPD (1/162), demonstrating that the mutation is tightly linked to 11q UPD. These mutations were 8 point mutations and 1 micro-deletion, they were accumulated in the linker or RING domain. These c-cbl mutants can transform NIH3T3 in a dominant manner and these mutants are phosphorylated and activate PI3K-Akt pathway. To investigate the functions of these mutants in hematopoietic cells, we introduced these mutants into c-kit(+)Sca1(+)Lin(-) murine bone marrow cells, it prolonged replating capacity of these hematopoietic progenitors. Keywords: SNP-chip To identify oncogenic lesions in MDS, we performed a genome-wide analysis of primary MDS samples using high-density SNP arrays (Affymetrix GeneChip).
Project description:Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders of hematopoietic progenitors characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and high propensity to leukemias. Although a number of gene targets have been identified, in many MDS cases, particular genetic targets are unknown. In this study, we performed genome-wide profiling of copy number (CN) abnormalities and allelic imbalances in MDS genomes in order to clarify the distribution of LOH (loss of heterozygosity) and identify their target genes. We analyzed a total of 171MDS and MDS/MPD specimens, including 7 RA/RARS, 23 RCMD/RCMD-RS, 6 5q-syndrome, 30 RAEB-1, 40 RAEB-2, 4 therapy related-MDS/AML, 5 MDSu, 17 CMML-1, 16 CMML-2, 24 overt AML, using high-density SNP arrays. The data were analyzed by CNAG/AsCNAR software we specifically developed for allele-specific CN analysis and sensitive LOH detection. MDS showed characteristic CN profiles in SNP array analysis. Of particular interest is the finding of high frequency of CN-neutral LOH (Uniparental disomy,UPD), which were observed in 51 of 171 (30%) MDS cases. They preferentially involved 1p, 1q, 4q, 7q, 11q, 17p and other chromosomal segments, which were associated with homozygous mutations of both loss-of-function mutations and gain-of function mutations of tumor suppressor genes and cellular oncogenes, including TP53 (17p UPD), AML1/RUNX1 (21q UPD), Nras and cMPL (1p UPD), JAK-2 (9p UPD), and FLT3 (13q UPD). Next we tried to identify a new gene target in 11q UPD, which was most common UPD region in this study and many of these cases were CMML with a normal karyotype. The minimum 11q UPD segment is about 2Mb which existed in 11q23. We sequenced coding exons of c-cbl and detected homozygous mutations in 8 of 9 MDS cases with 11q UPD (CMML= 5, RAEB= 3, overt leukemia= 1), but very rare in cases without 11q UPD (1/162), demonstrating that the mutation is tightly linked to 11q UPD. These mutations were 8 point mutations and 1 micro-deletion, they were accumulated in the linker or RING domain. These c-cbl mutants can transform NIH3T3 in a dominant manner and these mutants are phosphorylated and activate PI3K-Akt pathway. To investigate the functions of these mutants in hematopoietic cells, we introduced these mutants into c-kit(+)Sca1(+)Lin(-) murine bone marrow cells, it prolonged replating capacity of these hematopoietic progenitors. Keywords: SNP-chip
Project description:Full Title: Multilineage Dysplasia (MLD) in AML correlates with MDS-related cytogenetic abnormalities and a prior history of MDS or MDS/MPN but has no independent prognostic relevance: A comparison of 408 cases classified as “AML not otherwise specified” or “AML with myelodysplasia-related changes” The WHO classification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is hierarchically structured and integrates genetic information, data on patients’ history, and multilineage dysplasia (MLD). The category “AML with MDS-related changes” (AML-MRC) is separated from AML not otherwise specified (AML-NOS) by the presence of either MLD, MDS-related cytogenetics or MDS history. To clarify whether MLD alone is clinically relevant, we analyzed 408 adult patients categorized as AML-MRC or AML-NOS. EFS (Median 13.8 months vs. 16.0 months) and 3-year-OS (45.8% vs. 53.9%) did not differ significantly between patients with MLD and without. However, MLD correlated with pre-existing MDS (p<0.001) and MDS-related cytogenetics (p=0.035). Patients with MLD as sole AML-MRC criterion (AML-MLD-sole; n=90) had less frequently FLT3-ITD (p=0.032), and a lower median age than AML-NOS (n=232), but EFS, OS, and WBC did not differ significantly. Contrarily, patients with AML-NOS plus AML-MLD-sole (n=323) versus patients with MDS history or MDS-related cytogenetics (n=85) had better EFS (16.9 vs. 10.7 months; p=0.005) and 3-year-OS (55.8% vs. 32.5%; p=0.001). Gene expression profiles were measured for a subset of 96 patients. Analysis of the expression data showed distinct clusters for AML-MLD-sole and AML-NOS versus AML with MDS-related cytogenetics or MDS history. Thus, MLD demonstrated no independent clinical impact, while cytogenetics and MDS history were of prognostic relevance. This data suggest modifications in a revised WHO proposal. All 96 bone marrow samples were obtained from untreated patients at the time of diagnosis. Cells used for microarray analysis were collected from the purified fraction of mononuclear cells after Ficoll density centrifugation.