RUNX1 mutations in blast-phase chronic myeloid leukemia associate with distinct phenotypes, transcriptional profiles, and drug responses

Leukemia. 2021 Apr;35(4):1087-1099. doi: 10.1038/s41375-020-01011-5. Epub 2020 Aug 11.

Abstract

Blast-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (BP-CML) is associated with additional chromosomal aberrations, RUNX1 mutations being one of the most common. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy has only limited efficacy in BP-CML, and characterization of more defined molecular subtypes is warranted in order to design better treatment modalities for this poor prognosis patient group. Using whole-exome and RNA sequencing we demonstrate that PHF6 and BCORL1 mutations, IKZF1 deletions, and AID/RAG-mediated rearrangements are enriched in RUNX1mut BP-CML leading to typical mutational signature. On transcriptional level interferon and TNF signaling were deregulated in primary RUNX1mut CML cells and stem cell and B-lymphoid factors upregulated giving a rise to distinct phenotype. This was accompanied with the sensitivity of RUNX1mut blasts to CD19-CAR T cells in ex vivo assays. High-throughput drug sensitivity and resistance testing revealed leukemia cells from RUNX1mut patients to be highly responsive for mTOR-, BCL2-, and VEGFR inhibitors and glucocorticoids. These findings were further investigated and confirmed in CRISPR/Cas9-edited homozygous RUNX1-/- and heterozygous RUNX1-/mut BCR-ABL positive cell lines. Overall, our study provides insights into the pathogenic role of RUNX1 mutations and highlights personalized targeted therapy and CAR T-cell immunotherapy as potentially promising strategies for treating RUNX1mut BP-CML patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Blast Crisis / diagnosis
  • Blast Crisis / drug therapy
  • Blast Crisis / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit / genetics*
  • Disease Management
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Editing
  • Humans
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Mutation*
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Binding
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
  • IKZF1 protein, human
  • RUNX1 protein, human
  • Ikaros Transcription Factor