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DNA methylation signatures in precursor lymphoid neoplasms: with focus on clinical implications &  the biology behind
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0759-3932
2019 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Precursor lymphoid neoplasms, namely acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphomas (LBL), are characterized by an aggressive proliferation of malignant progenitor B- or T-cells. To improve risk classification at diagnosis, better prognostic and treatment stratifying biomarkers are needed. Altered DNA methylation pattern is a hallmark of neoplastic transformation, and has been employed as a molecular prognostic and predictive marker in various cancers, including hematological malignancies. Our research group previously identified a CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) panel that classified pediatric T-ALL patients into prognostic subgroups.

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate distinct DNA methylation signatures in precursor lymphoid neoplasms, and to validate the prognostic value of CIMP classification in separate patient cohorts. Additionally, the biological mechanisms underlying the distinct CIMP methylation signatures in these malignancies were investigated.

The prognostic relevance of CIMP classification was validated in an independent Nordic cohort of pediatric T-ALL patients. Combination of CIMP status with minimal residual disease (MRD) status, could further dissect the high-risk MRD positive T-ALL patients into two CIMP subgroups with significantly distinct outcomes. Furthermore, CIMP classification at diagnosis was shown to predict overall survival in relapsed BCP-ALL patients. CIMP methylation signatures were also identified in T-LBL patients, indicating a broader relevance of CIMP based classification in lymphoid malignancies. Investigating the biology behind CIMP methylation signatures showed the association of CIMP status with the proliferative history of the leukemic cells. A differential transcriptomic analysis revealed a correlation of CIMP subgroups with known T-ALL drivers, as well as with novel genes in T-ALL biology. Finally, we identified distinct DNA methylation patterns and genetic aberrations in T-ALL and T-LBL that might contribute to the different clinical presentation of these two diseases. In conclusion, we validated the prognostic significance of CIMP methylation signature in precursor lymphoid malignancies and identified transcriptomic profiles that associated with the subgroups. DNA methylation is a strong candidate for further risk classification in lymphoid neoplasms and our findings can contribute to the identification of new potential targets for treatment.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Umeå University , 2019. , p. 82
Series
Umeå University medical dissertations, ISSN 0346-6612 ; 2015
Keywords [en]
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Lymphoma, T-ALL, BCP-ALL, T-LBL, DNA methylation, CIMP, Prognosis, TAL1, HOX.
National Category
Cancer and Oncology Hematology Pediatrics Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Genetics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-156642ISBN: 978-91-7855-023-4 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-156642DiVA, id: diva2:1290379
Public defence
2019-03-15, Hörsal Betula, Norrlands universitetssjukhus, 90185, Umeå, 09:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2019-02-22 Created: 2019-02-20 Last updated: 2019-03-14Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. DNA Methylation Adds Prognostic Value to Minimal Residual Disease Status in Pediatric T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Open this publication in new window or tab >>DNA Methylation Adds Prognostic Value to Minimal Residual Disease Status in Pediatric T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
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2016 (English)In: Pediatric Blood & Cancer, ISSN 1545-5009, E-ISSN 1545-5017, Vol. 63, no 7, p. 1185-1192Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background. Despite increased knowledge about genetic aberrations in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), no clinically feasible treatment-stratifying marker exists at diagnosis. Instead patients are enrolled in intensive induction therapies with substantial side effects. In modern protocols, therapy response is monitored by minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis and used for postinduction risk group stratification. DNA methylation profiling is a candidate for subtype discrimination at diagnosis and we investigated its role as a prognostic marker in pediatric T-ALL. Procedure. Sixty-five diagnostic T-ALL samples from Nordic pediatric patients treated according to the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology ALL 2008 (NOPHO ALL 2008) protocol were analyzed by HumMeth450K genome wide DNA methylation arrays. Methylation status was analyzed in relation to clinical data and early T-cell precursor (ETP) phenotype. Results. Two distinct CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) groups were identified. Patients with a CIMP-negative profile had an inferior response to treatment compared to CIMP-positive patients (3-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR3y) rate: 29% vs. 6%, P = 0.01). Most importantly, CIMP classification at diagnosis allowed subgrouping of high-risk T-ALL patients (MRD >= 0.1% at day 29) into two groups with significant differences in outcome (CIR3y rates: CIMP negative 50% vs. CIMP positive 12%; P = 0.02). These groups did not differ regarding ETP phenotype, but the CIMP-negative group was younger (P = 0.02) and had higher white blood cell count at diagnosis (P = 0.004) compared with the CIMP-positive group. Conclusions. CIMP classification at diagnosis in combination with MRD during induction therapy is a strong candidate for further risk classification and could confer important information in treatment decision making.

Keywords
childhood leukemia, DNA methylation, MRD, prognosis, T-ALL, WBC
National Category
Cancer and Oncology Hematology Pediatrics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-124837 (URN)10.1002/pbc.25958 (DOI)000380105400008 ()26928953 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84959260271 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2016-10-03 Created: 2016-08-26 Last updated: 2023-03-24Bibliographically approved
2. DNA methylation holds prognostic information in relapsed precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Open this publication in new window or tab >>DNA methylation holds prognostic information in relapsed precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
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2018 (English)In: Clinical Epigenetics, E-ISSN 1868-7083, Vol. 10, article id 31Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: Few biological markers are associated with survival after relapse of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). In pediatric T-cell ALL, we have identified promoter-associated methylation alterations that correlate with prognosis. Here, the prognostic relevance of CpG island methylation phenotype (CIMP) classification was investigated in pediatric BCP-ALL patients.

Methods: Six hundred and one BCP-ALL samples from Nordic pediatric patients (age 1-18) were CIMP classified at initial diagnosis and analyzed in relation to clinical data.

Results: Among the 137 patients that later relapsed, patients with a CIMP-profile (n = 42) at initial diagnosis had an inferior overall survival (pOS(5years) 33%) compared to CIMP+ patients (n = 95, pOS(5years) 65%) (p = 0.001), which remained significant in a Cox proportional hazards model including previously defined risk factors.

Conclusion: CIMP classification is a strong candidate for improved risk stratification of relapsed BCP-ALL.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BioMed Central, 2018
Keywords
DNA methylation, BCP-ALL, prognosis, CIMP, relapse, risk stratification
National Category
Hematology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-146216 (URN)10.1186/s13148-018-0466-3 (DOI)000427080200001 ()29515676 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85043307665 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2018-05-08 Created: 2018-05-08 Last updated: 2023-03-24Bibliographically approved
3. An integrated transcriptome analysis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia links DNA methylation subgroups to dysregulated TAL1 and ANTP homeobox gene expression
Open this publication in new window or tab >>An integrated transcriptome analysis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia links DNA methylation subgroups to dysregulated TAL1 and ANTP homeobox gene expression
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2019 (English)In: Cancer Medicine, E-ISSN 2045-7634, Vol. 8, no 1, p. 311-324Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Classification of pediatric T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) patients into CIMP (CpG Island Methylator Phenotype) subgroups has the potential to improve current risk stratification. To investigate the biology behind these CIMP subgroups, diagnostic samples from Nordic pediatric T‐ALL patients were characterized by genome‐wide methylation arrays, followed by targeted exome sequencing, telomere length measurement, and RNA sequencing. The CIMP subgroups did not correlate significantly with variations in epigenetic regulators. However, the CIMP+ subgroup, associated with better prognosis, showed indicators of longer replicative history, including shorter telomere length (P = 0.015) and older epigenetic (P < 0.001) and mitotic age (P < 0.001). Moreover, the CIMP+ subgroup had significantly higher expression of ANTP homeobox oncogenes, namely TLX3, HOXA9, HOXA10, and NKX2‐1, and novel genes in T‐ALL biology including PLCB4, PLXND1, and MYO18B. The CIMP− subgroup, with worse prognosis, was associated with higher expression of TAL1 along with frequent STIL‐TAL1 fusions (2/40 in CIMP+ vs 11/24 in CIMP−), as well as stronger expression of BEX1. Altogether, our findings suggest different routes for leukemogenic transformation in the T‐ALL CIMP subgroups, indicated by different replicative histories and distinct methylomic and transcriptomic profiles. These novel findings can lead to new therapeutic strategies.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2019
Keywords
BEX1, DNA methylation, HOXA, pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, TAL1
National Category
Cancer and Oncology Hematology Pediatrics Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-156637 (URN)10.1002/cam4.1917 (DOI)000456858100032 ()30575306 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85060542802 (Scopus ID)
Funder
The Kempe FoundationsSwedish Childhood Cancer FoundationVästerbotten County CouncilSwedish Research CouncilKnut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
Available from: 2019-02-20 Created: 2019-02-20 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
4. Epigenetic and genetic distinctions between T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Epigenetic and genetic distinctions between T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma
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(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
National Category
Cancer and Oncology Hematology Pediatrics Genetics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-156641 (URN)
Available from: 2019-02-20 Created: 2019-02-20 Last updated: 2019-02-21

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