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Refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain big clinical challenges contributing to patient mortality. Therefore, early identification of patients at high risk of relapse is important. The presence of cytogenetic and molecular aberrations at diagnosis and poor response to therapy are known to be associated with increased risk of AML relapse. They are particularly useful when deciding whether chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) should be used.1 Based on the prognostic relevance of many recurrent somatic mutations, mutational profiling became incorporated as a prognostic factor in AML European LeukaemiaNet (ELN) guidelines.2
Tailoring novel drugs targeting genetic mutations to patients with a particular sensitivity could improve clinical responses. The limited number of biomarkers associated with drug sensitivity makes predicting patient response before treatment difficult.3 Individual in vitro and ex vivo sensitivity assays have been used in the past but are mainly restricted to clinical trials.4,5
Previously reported data demonstrate that mutations in FLT3, IDH1, KIT, and RAS have an impact on drug sensitivity.3 However, it remains unclear whether combining molecular profiling with ex vivo chemosensitivity profiling could improve the potential to predict patients that will respond. The clinical relevance of a such combined strategy was explored in patients with AML in a study by Esther Onecha and colleagues, recently published in the British Journal of Haematology.6
Patients with AML (non-M3 type) from a multicentre, non-interventional cohort study of the Programa espaňol de tratamientos hematológicos (PETHEMA) group were profiled using next-gene sequencing (NGS) and ex vivo chemosensitivity flow cytometry assay. In total, 57 (77%) patients were treated with a 3 + 7 schedule and 17 (23%) with fludarabine plus low-dose cytarabine (FLUGA scheme).
Patients’ DNA samples (n = 190) from bone marrow or peripheral blood were used in the analysis. All samples were genetically characterized at the time of diagnosis by G-band karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Additionally, samples were examined for 32 most commonly mutated genes in myeloid diseases, NMP1 mutations, and internal duplications.
Assessment of live pathological cells was performed on cells extracted from bone marrow samples after incubation with varied concentrations of therapeutic agents:
Table 1. Selected patient characteristics6
AML, acute myeloid leukemia; CR, complete remission; ELN, European leukaemiaNet (2010); FLUGA, fludarabine + cytarabine; HSCT, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; MDS, myelodysplastic syndromes; NGS, next generation sequencing; PR, partial remission; tAML, treatment-related AML |
||
|
NGS assay (n = 190) |
Ex vivo assay (n = 74) |
---|---|---|
Gender, % Male Female |
53 47 |
60 40 |
Median age at diagnosis (range), years |
57 (18–91) |
58 (19–91) |
Median blasts at diagnosis (range), % |
63 (4–99) |
67 (20–99) |
AML origin De novo AML-MDS tAML |
80 11 9 |
84 11 5 |
Cytogenetics Risk Group ELN 2010 Low Intermediate High |
7 69 24 |
15 63 22 |
HSCT, % Autologous Allogenic None |
24 17 59 |
20 20 60 |
Induction treatment, % (3 + 7) scheme Azacitidine Decitabine FLUGA scheme Support |
81 1 0.5 14 3.5 |
77 — — 23 — |
Response to induction, % CR PR Resistance Death |
58 16 10 16 |
57 26 17 — |
Median follow-up (range), months |
26 (1–150) |
20 (0.5–70) |
Table 2. Mutations associated with increased and decreased drug sensitivity6
Mutated gene |
Drug |
p value (n) |
---|---|---|
Mutations associated with increased sensitivity |
||
KMT2A |
Idarubicin |
0.001 (74) |
FLT3 |
|
|
NPM1 |
Mitoxantrone |
0.029 (49) |
Mutations associated with resistance |
||
TP53 |
Fludarabine |
0.044 (73) |
U2AF1 |
Amsacrine |
0.032 (29) |
IDH2 |
Cytarabine |
0.049 (74) |
EPOR |
Cytarabine |
0.043 (74) |
The authors developed a new score, combining information about an innate resistance to chemotherapy with mutational analysis. As the impact of somatic mutation present in malignant cells, on drug resistance is still unknown, the ex vivo chemosensitivity assay could help to address that. If validated in a prospective study, the findings could improve the risk stratification of patients with AML and aid in more accurately predicting outcomes of chemotherapy at an early stage in clinical care.
References
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