Myeloid neoplasms with concurrent BCR‐ABL1 and CBFB rearrangements: A series of 10 cases of a clinically aggressive neoplasm. Issue 6 (6th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salem, Alireza; Loghavi, Sanam; Tang, Guilin; Huh, Yang O.; Jabbour, Elias J.; Kantarjian, Hagop; Wang, Wei; Hu, Shimin; Luthra, Rajyalakshmi; Medeiros, L. Jeffrey; Khoury, Joseph D.
• Is Part Of: American journal of hematology. Volume 92:Issue 6(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 520
• Page End: 528
• Publication Date: 2017-04-06
• Subjects: Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.15
• DOI: 10.1002/ajh.24710
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0361-8609

Abstract

Abstract: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is defined by the presence of t(9;22)(q34;q11.2)/ BCR‐ABL1 . Additional chromosomal abnormalities confer an adverse prognosis and are particularly common in the blast phase of CML (CML‐BP). CBFB rearrangement, particularly CBFB‐MYH11 fusion resulting from inv(16)(p13.1q22) or t(16;16)(p13.1;q22), is an acute myeloid leukemia (AML)‐defining alteration that is associated with a favorable outcome. The co‐occurrence of BCR‐ABL1 and CBFB rearrangement is extremely rare, and the significance of this finding remains unclear. We identified 10 patients with myeloid neoplasms harboring BCR‐ABL1 and CBFB rearrangement. The study group included six men and four women with a median age of 51 years (range, 20‐71 years). The sequence of molecular alterations could be determined in nine cases: BCR‐ABL1 preceded CBFB rearrangement in seven, CBFB rearrangement preceded BCR‐ABL1 in one, and both alterations were discovered simultaneously in one patient. BCR‐ABL1 encoded for p210 kD in all cases in which BCR‐ABL1 preceded CBFB rearrangement; a p190 kD was identified in the other three cases. Two patients were treated with the FLAG‐IDA regimen (fludarabine, cytarabine, idarubicin, and G‐CSF) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI); seven with other cytarabine‐based regimens and TKIs, and one with ponatinib alone. At last follow up (median, 16 months; range 2‐85), 7 of 10 patients had died. The co‐existence of BCR‐ABL1 and CBFB rearrangement is associated with poor outcome and a clinical course similar to that of CML‐BP, and unlike de novo AML with CBFB rearrangement, suggesting that high‐intensity chemotherapy with TKI should be considered in these patients.