Cytogentic Services in Leukaemia - Myeloid Malignancies Flashcards
What is the purpose of cytogenetic testing for myeloid malignancies?
1) . DIAGNOSIS - t(15;17) in Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APML).
2) . PROGNOSIS - inv(16) in AML is good prognosis, but a complex karyotype in AML is poor.
3) . MONITORING - response to treatment, remission/relapse statues, loss or return of abnormalities seen at diagnosis, post BMT look for recipient/donor cells.
4) . TRIAL REQUIREMENTS - may ask for particular levels of analysis.
Discuss CML
- CML is Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia.
- The acquired chromosome translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11) is an example which leads to a new fusion protein BCR-ABL1.
- Can detect this abnormality by karyotype, FISH, PCR.
- ABL1 on chromosome 9, BCR on chromosome 22.
- BCR-ABL1 gene fusion formed on the the derivative chromosome 22 (Philadelphia chromosome).
- The reciprocal ABL1-BCR gene fusion is formed on the derivative chromosome 9.
- Can have variants.
What chromosome is ABL1 on?
- ABL1 is on chromosome 9
What chromosome is BCR on?
- BCR is on chromosome 22
What translocations leads to the formation of the BCR-ABL1 fusion protein? What chromosome is this formed on?
- BCR-ABL1 gene fusion formed on the the derivative chromosome 22 (Philadelphia chromosome).
- The reciprocal ABL1-BCR gene fusion is formed on the derivative chromosome 9.
What fusion protein will always be found in CML?
- BCR-ABL1 gene fusion formed on the the derivative chromosome 22 (Philadelphia chromosome).
How can we detect the BCR-ABL1 fusion using FISH?
- Using probes which span the breakpoints of ABL1 in the 9 and BCR on the 22 we will be able to see both probes present in on the derivative chromosome in which the BCR-ABL1 and ABL1-BCR gene fusions have formed.
What the consequence of the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene that is present in CML cases? How can the effects of this gene fusion be treated?
- The BCR-ABL1 fusion gene produces a chimeric abnormal protein which has enhanced tyrosine kinase activity.
- Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI) are used to treat CML.
- The drug Imatinib (Glivec, Gleevec, STI571) is designed to fit into the ATP binding site of this chimeric protein.
- If the binding site is blocked the BCR-ABL1 protein is effectively switched off.
What is Imatinib?
- The BCR-ABL1 fusion gene produces a chimeric abnormal protein which has enhanced tyrosine kinase activity.
- Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKI) are used to treat CML.
- The drug Imatinib (Glivec, Gleevec, STI571) is designed to fit into the ATP binding site of this chimeric protein.
- If the binding site is blocked the BCR-ABL1 protein is effectively switched off.
What guidelines are available for monitoring the response to treatment in CML?
- There are British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) guidelines to monitor response, updated in Baccarani (2009), on belhalf of European Leukaemia net (ELN).
- ACC BPGs.
- May have local policies.
- After diagnosis, follow up samples at intervals.
What are the definitions for how CML patients are responding to treatment in cytogenetic terms?
- Definitions of cytogenetic an molecular responses (Baccarani et al 2009).
- Cytogenetic Response is measured by (CgR) Ph+ve (Philadelphia positive) cell levels.
- Based on Ph positive metaphase cells in marrow.
- If someone still has 96-100% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have no cytogenetic response to treatment (noCgR).
- If someone still has 66-95% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have minimal cytogenetic response to treatment (minCgR).
- If someone still has 36-65% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have minor cytogenetic response to treatment (mCgR).
- If someone still has 1-35% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have partial cytogenetic response to treatment (PCgR).
- If someone still has 0% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have complete cytogenetic response to treatment (CCgR).
- Once you have achieved a complete cytogenetic response it is recommended that you then detect biomolecular means from then on.
In cytogenetic terms what is considered to be no response to Imatinib treatment for CML?
- If someone still has 96-100% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have no cytogenetic response to treatment (noCgR).
In cytogenetic terms what is considered to be minimal response to Imatinib treatment for CML?
- If someone still has 66-95% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have minimal cytogenetic response to treatment (minCgR).
In cytogenetic terms what is considered to be minor response to Imatinib treatment for CML?
- If someone still has 36-65% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have minor cytogenetic response to treatment (mCgR).
In cytogenetic terms what is considered to be partial response to Imatinib treatment for CML?
- If someone still has 1-35% Ph+ve levels after Imatinib treatment they are considered to have partial cytogenetic response to treatment (PCgR).