A novel bi-alleleic DDX41 mutations in B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia: case report

BMC Med Genomics. 2022 Mar 4;15(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12920-022-01191-2.

Abstract

Background: The germline mutations of DDX41, also known as DEAD box RNA helicase 41, have been found in about 1.5% of myeloid neoplasms (MNs). Development of MDS/AML is relatively common in germline DDX41 mutations. However, a variety of hematological malignancies (HMs) have been reported.

Case presentation: We report a novel case of bi-alleleic DDX41 mutations in B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), with unusual location of DDX41 mutations. The gene expression profile (GEP) of Ph + B-ALL with bi-alleleic DDX41 mutations showed heterogeneously transitional GEP and altered gene expression levels of genes involved in the process essential for red blood cells and myeloid cell differentiation were noted.

Conclusions: We report that DDX41 mutations are unusual but can be an underlying event in Ph + B-ALL and screening DDX41 mutations can be also informative for patients awaiting for haploidentical stem cell transplantation and choosing the therapy.

Keywords: B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia; Case report; DDX41 germline mutation; Gene expression.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics
  • Germ-Line Mutation
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes* / genetics
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma*

Substances

  • DDX41 protein, human
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases