Case presentation
A 26-year-old male was admitted to our hospital in Jan 2019 due to hypoleukocytosis lasting two weeks. His family history did not suggest an inherited susceptibility to cancer, as no first-degree relatives, including his parents, his brother, and his child, had cancer. The complete blood cell count (CBC) indicated a white blood cell (WBC) count of 0.77 × 109/L, platelet count of 129 × 109/L, and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of 45 g/L. Bone marrow aspirates revealed monocyte hyperplasia with 93% monoblasts and 2.5% promonocytes (Fig. 1A). Moreover, non-specific esterase stain revealed intensely positive monoblasts, and the positive stain could be inhibited by sodium fluoride (data not shown). Immunophenotype analysis of the abnormal cells by flow cytometry revealed full expression of HLA-DR, CD38, CD33, CD15, CD64 and CD56; partial expression of CD34, CD117, CD123, CD11b; and no expression of CD13, CD7, CD5, CD19, CD10, CD20, CD14, MPO and cCD3 (Fig. 1C). Chromosome analysis of bone marrow cells indicated a karyotype of 46, XY, t(9;11)(p21.3;q23.3) (Fig. 1D). The KM2TA-MLL3 fusion gene was identified using PCR. Targeted multi-genes panel sequencing revealed that WT1 (p.Arg370Pro, VAF 49.19%) and TET2 (p.Asp1844Asn, VAF 25.25%) mutations were present. He was diagnosed with AML, having t(9;11)(p21.3;q23.3), KM2TA-MLL3, accompanied by mutated WT1 and TET2, intermediate risk. A standard IA induction chemotherapy regimen (idarubicin + cytarabine) was administered on January 30, 2019, but bone marrow depression occurred.
At the end of first induction chemotherapy on February 20, 2019, the CBC revealed a WBC count of 0.64 × 109/L, Hb of 83 g/L, platelet count of 21 × 109/L. Bone marrow aspiration showed that primitive and immature cells made up 6% of the nucleated bone marrow cells. Flow cytometry detected 21% abnormal immunophenotype monocytes. The patient achieved partial remission. The CAG (Clarithromycin + Cytarabine + G-CSF) regimen was then administered as second induction chemotherapy on February 21, 2019.
The evaluation of the bone marrow at the end of second induction on March 21, 2019, showed that primitive and immature monocytes made up 0% of the bone marrow nucleated cells. Monocytes with abnormal immunophenotype were less than 0.01%. The KM2TA-MLL3 fusion gene was not present. Complete remission was achieved. However, the WT1 (p.Arg370Pro VAF 50.11%) and TET2 (p.Asp1844Asn VAF 48.33%) mutations were still present. Another IA regimen was then administered as consolidation chemotherapy on March 29, 2019. The evaluation of the bone marrow on May 9, 2019 revealed that primitive and immature monocytes made up 7% of the nucleated bone marrow cells and CD34 + CD117 + CD33 + cells were 0.75% by flow cytometry. MLL3-AF9 fusion remained negative. All these data suggested early recurrence. While WT1 (p.Arg370Pro) and TET2 (p.Asp1844Asn) mutations were still positive, the VAF was 51.87% and 51.78%, respectively.
Owing to the fluctuation of the disease, the risk stratification was re-evaluated to high-risk. A HA regimen chemotherapy (homoharringtonine and intermediate-dose cytarabine) was administered on May 11, 2019. The second complete remission was achieved, with mutations on WT1 (p.Arg370Pro) and TET2 (p.Asp1844Asn) genes still present, and the VAF was 48.35% and 49.88%, respectively.
A sequential allogeneic HLA-matched single hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was carried out on July 9, 2019. Complete donor chimerism was received after allo-HSCT (Fig. 1E). To date, the patient has remained in complete remission with regular follow-up.
Since the patient's bone marrow-targeted multi-gene panel sequencing results did not synchronize with the patient's tumor stage, we suspected the WT1 (p.Arg370Pro) and TET2 (p.Asp1844Asn) mutations were germline mutations. To verify this hypothesis, we sampled the buccal mucosa cells of the patient and the peripheral blood or buccal mucosa cells of the patient’s parents and brother.
DNA extraction and targeted multi-gene panel sequencing
DNA was extracted from the above samples according to the manufacturer's instructions (BioTeke Corporation, Beijing, China), and stored at -20℃. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xuanwu Hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from all subjects. Variations of DNA samples from the patient’s relatives were analyzed using NGS, based on a panel of thirty-four genes commonly involved in myeloid neoplasms (ASXL1, BCOR, BCORL1, CALR, CBL, CSF3R, IDH1, IDH2, JAK2, KRAS, MPL, NRAS, SF3B1, SH2B3, SRSF2, TET2, TP53, U2AF1, EZH2, SETBP1, ETV6, DNMT3A, ZRSR2, PHF6, FLT3, RUNX1, CEBPA, PIGA, WT1, PDGFRA, KIT, NPM1, GATA2, MLL). A PCR-based method was used for target-enrichment (KAPA Library Amplification Kits, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Indianapolis, USA), and average sequencing depth was above 1500×. Variants were identified by SAMtools software, and variant allele frequency (VAF) was calculated as mutation reads/coverage reads[8].
Bioinformatics analysis
On the cBioPortal cancer genomics database (Version 3.1.0; https://www.cbioportal.org/,version 3.0.6)[9, 10], we accessed three studies including 1661 AML patients; two Acute Myeloid Leukemia (OHSU, Nature 2018 and TCGA, PanCancer Atlas), and one Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia (TARGET, 2018). The alteration characteristics and prognostic value of WT1 and TET2 were analyzed via the cBioPortal database. Another database, UALCAN (http://ualcan.path.uab.edu/index.html) database[11], was used to analyze WT1/TET2 expression levels and their relationship with overall survival (OS) in AML patients.