Volume 173, Issue 2 pp. 265-273
Research Paper

Genes encoding members of the JAK-STAT pathway or epigenetic regulators are recurrently mutated in T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia

Cristina López

Cristina López

Institute for Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Kiel, Germany

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Anke K. Bergmann

Corresponding Author

Anke K. Bergmann

Institute for Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Kiel, Germany

Department of Paediatrics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Kiel, Germany

Contributed equally.

Correspondence: Dr. Anke K. Bergmann, Institute for Human Genetics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Schwanenweg 24, 24105 Kiel, Germany.

E-mail: [email protected]

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Ulrike Paul

Ulrike Paul

Institute for Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Kiel, Germany

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Eva M. Murga Penas

Eva M. Murga Penas

Institute for Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Kiel, Germany

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Inga Nagel

Inga Nagel

Institute for Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Kiel, Germany

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Matthew J. Betts

Matthew J. Betts

Cell Networks, Bioquant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

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Patricia Johansson

Patricia Johansson

Department of Haematology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

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Matthias Ritgen

Matthias Ritgen

Second Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

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Tycho Baumann

Tycho Baumann

Department of Haematology, Hospital Clínic, Institut d′Investigaciones Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

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Marta Aymerich

Marta Aymerich

Haematopathology Unit, Hospital Clínic, Institut d′Investigaciones Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

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Sandrine Jayne

Sandrine Jayne

Ernest and Helen Scott Haematological Research Institute, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

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Robert B. Russell

Robert B. Russell

Cell Networks, Bioquant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

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Elias Campo

Elias Campo

Haematopathology Unit, Hospital Clínic, Institut d′Investigaciones Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

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Martin JS Dyer

Martin JS Dyer

Ernest and Helen Scott Haematological Research Institute, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

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Jan Dürig

Jan Dürig

Department of Haematology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany

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Reiner Siebert

Reiner Siebert

Institute for Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Kiel, Germany

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First published: 25 February 2016
Citations: 66

Summary

T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia (T-PLL) is an aggressive leukaemia. The primary genetic alteration in T-PLL are the inv(14)(q11q32)/t(14;14)(q11;q32) leading to TRD/TRA-TCL1A fusion, or the t(X;14)(q28;q11) associated with TRD/TRA-MTCP1 fusion. However, additional cooperating abnormalities are necessary for emergence of the full neoplastic phenotype. Though the pattern of secondary chromosomal aberrations is remarkably conserved, targets of the changes are largely unknown. We analysed a cohort of 43 well-characterized T-PLL for hotspot mutations in the genes JAK3, STAT5B and RHOA. Additionally, we selected a subset of 23 T-PLL cases for mutational screening of 54 genes known to be recurrently mutated in T-cell and other haematological neoplasms. Activating mutations in the investigated regions of the JAK3 and STAT5B genes were detected in 30% (13/43) and 21% (8/39) of the cases, respectively, and were mutually exclusive. Further, we identified mutations in the genes encoding the epigenetic regulators EZH2 in 13% (3/23), TET2 in 17% (4/23) and BCOR in 9% (2/23) of the cases. We confirmed that the JAK-STAT pathway is a major mutational target, and identified epigenetic regulators recurrently mutated in T-PLL. These findings complement the mutational spectrum of secondary aberrations in T-PLL and underscore the potential therapeutical relevance of epigenetic regulators in T-PLL.

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