High EVI1 expression is associated with MLL rearrangements and predicts decreased survival in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia: a report from the children's oncology group. (4th July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ho, Phoenix A.; Alonzo, Todd A.; Gerbing, Robert B.; Pollard, Jessica A.; Hirsch, Betsy; Raimondi, Susana C.; Cooper, Todd; Gamis, Alan S.; Meshinchi, Soheil
• Is Part Of: British journal of haematology. Volume 162:Number 5(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 670
• Page End: 677
• Publication Date: 2013-07-04
• Subjects: Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.15
• DOI: 10.1111/bjh.12444
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1048

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="bjh12444-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Ectopic viral integration site‐1 (<italic>EVI1)</italic> is highly expressed in certain cytogenetic subsets of adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and has been associated with inferior survival. We sought to examine the clinical and biological associations of <italic>EVI1</italic><sup>high</sup>, defined as expression in excess of normal controls, in paediatric AML. <italic>EVI1</italic> mRNA expression was measured via quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction in diagnostic specimens obtained from 206 patients. Expression levels were correlated with clinical features and outcome. <italic>EVI1</italic><sup>high</sup> was present in 58/206 (28%) patients. <italic>MLL</italic> rearrangements occurred in 40% of <italic>EVI1</italic><sup>high</sup> patients as opposed to 12% of the <italic>EVI1</italic><sup>low/absent</sup> patients (<italic>P</italic> < 0·001). No abnormalities of 3q26 were found in <italic>EVI1</italic><sup>high</sup> patients by conventional cytogenetic analysis, nor were cryptic 3q26 abnormalities detected in a subset of patients screened by next‐generation sequencing. French‐American‐British class M7 was enriched in the <italic>EVI1</italic><sup>high</sup> group, accounting for 24% of these patients. <italic>EVI1</italic><sup>high</sup> patients had significantly lower 5‐year overall survival from study entry (51% vs. 68%, <italic>P</italic> = 0·015). However, in multivariate analysis including other established prognostic markers, <italic>EVI1</italic> expression did not retain independent prognostic significance. <italic>EVI1</italic> expression is currently being studied in a larger cohort of patients enrolled on subsequent Children's Oncology Group trials, to determine if <italic>EVI1</italic><sup>high</sup> has prognostic value in <italic>MLL‐</italic>rearranged or intermediate‐risk subsets.</p> </abstract>