16. Genetics of ALL Flashcards
What type of cells accumulate in ALL?
Immature lymphoid blasts
What are the main types of ALL and how do they differ?
B-ALL - most common, early childhood, worse prognosis with increasing age. Normal trilineage haematopoiesis not preserved
T-ALL - much rarer. Normal trilineage haematopoiesis preserved
What are the symptoms of ALL?
Fever, fatigue, weight loss, bone pain, swelling, swollen lymph nodes
What is mixed lineage ALL?
Caused by rearrangements including KMT2A/MLL
> 100 partner genes for KMT2A
Most common abnormality in infants <1yr
When do KMT2A rearrangements usually occur?
In utero
What is the prognosis of mixed lineage ALL?
Poor
What sort of FISH probe is used to detect KMT2A rearrangements? Why?
Breakapart probe
Due to >100 different fusion partners
What is the most common sub-type of ALL in adults?
BCR-ABL associated ALL
25% of adult ALL, 2-4% of childhood ALL
What is the consequence of BCR-ABL in ALL?
- Constitutive ABL1 kinase activity –> deregulated proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation –> growth and survival advantage
- Treated with TKIs
What is the prognosis of BCR-ABL associated ALL?
Poor
How does BCR:ABL differ in ALL and CML?
70% of ALL patients with BCR:ABL have IKZF1 deletion as cooperative mutation – not seen in CML
Why is FISH used for KMT2A rearrangements, BCR-ABL and ETV6-RUNX1 instead of karyotyping?
Rearrangments can be cryptic so not detectable by karyotype
What abnormality is most commonly seen in childhood B-ALL?
ETV6-RUNX1 – t(12;21)
25% of childhood cases, translocation arises in utero
What is the prognosis of ETV6-RUNX1?
Good
What is the consequence of ETV6-RUNX1?
Fusion protein affects normal function of CBF (formed of RUNX1 and CBFB) - a TF that regulates normal haematopoiesis by promoting differentiation