Different outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant in a pair of twins affected by juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

Int J Hematol. 2014 Feb;99(2):208-12. doi: 10.1007/s12185-013-1489-3. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

Abstract

A twin pair affected by juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) with the same somatic PTPN11 mutation and abnormal chromosome 7 in bone marrow samples but distinct prognostic gene expression signatures, received a matched-unrelated donor and matched-unrelated cord blood transplant, respectively. Both twins fully engrafted, but after 6 months, the twin with an acute-myeloid-like (AML-like) signature at diagnosis rejected the graft and had an autologous reconstitution. A second transplant with an unrelated 5/6-HLA-matched-loci cord blood performed after 4 months from rejection was unsuccessful. After 25 months from diagnosis, the twin with the AML-like gene expression signature died of liver failure while on progression of his JMML. The other twin, who had a non-acute-myeloid-like (non-AML-like) gene expression signature at diagnosis is in complete hematological remission with full donor chimera. This observation suggests a biological diversity of JMML also in patients with a common genetic background.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Diseases in Twins / diagnosis
  • Diseases in Twins / immunology
  • Diseases in Twins / metabolism
  • Diseases in Twins / therapy*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / physiopathology*
  • Graft Survival*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile / immunology
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile / therapy*
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Remission Induction
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Twins, Monozygotic