TP53 Mutations are Associated with CD19 Negative Relapse and Inferior Outcomes after Blinatumomab in Adults with ALL.

Despite the success of the CD19xCD3 T cell engager blinatumomab in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), treatment failure is common and can manifest with antigen loss and extramedullary disease (EMD) relapse. To understand the impact of leukemia genetics on outcomes, we reviewed 267 adult patients with B-ALL treated with blinatumomab and used next generation sequencing to identify molecular alterations. Patients received blinatumomab for relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease (n=150), minimal residual disease (MRD+) (n=88), upfront as induction (n=10), or as consolidation in MRD- state (n=19).

Venetoclax in combination with a pediatric-inspired regimen for the treatment of newly diagnosed adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BCL-2 protein overexpression, common in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), including the Philadelphia (Ph)-like subtype, mediates leukemic cell survival. We treated 24 patients with 14 days of BCL-2 inhibitor, venetoclax, 400 mg daily (dose level 1) during induction and consolidation cycles combined with the CALGB 10403 regimen in newly diagnosed adults with Ph-negative B-ALL. Median age was 31 (range: 18-53) years, 92% were Hispanic, and 12 (50%) patients had Ph-like ALL.

Identification of an alternative short ARID5B isoform associated with B-ALL survival.

Utilizing RNA sequence (RNA-Seq) splice junction data from a cohort of 1841 B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients we define transcriptionally distinct isoforms of ARID5B, a risk-associated gene identified in genome wide association studies (GWAS), which associate with disease survival. Short (S) and long (L) ARID5B transcripts, which differ in an encoded BAH-like chromatin interaction domain, show remarkable correlation to the isoform splicing pattern. Testing of the ARID5B proximal promoter of the S & L isoforms indicated that both are functionally independent in luciferase reporter assays.

Biologic and clinical features of childhood gamma delta T-ALL: identification of STAG2/LMO2 γδ T-ALL as an extremely high risk leukemia in the very young.

Purpose: Gamma delta T-cell receptor-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (γδ T-ALL) is a high-risk but poorly characterized disease.

Methods: We studied clinical features of 200 pediatric γδ T-ALL, and compared the prognosis of 93 cases to 1,067 protocol-matched non-γδ T-ALL. Genomic features were defined by transcriptome and genome sequencing.

MD-ALL: an integrative platform for molecular diagnosis of B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) consists of dozens of subtypes defined by distinct gene expression profiles (GEP) and various genetic lesions. With the application of transcriptome sequencing (RNA sequencing [RNA-seq]), multiple novel subtypes have been identified, which lead to an advanced B-ALL classification and risk-stratification system. However, the complexity of analyzing RNA-seq data for B-ALL classification hinders the implementation of the new B-ALL taxonomy.

Transcriptome Sequencing Allows Comprehensive Genomic Characterization of Pediatric B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in an Academic Clinical Laboratory.

Studies have shown the power of transcriptome sequencing [RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq)] in identifying known and novel oncogenic drivers and molecular subtypes of B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The current study investigated whether the clinically validated RNA-Seq assay, coupled with a custom analysis pipeline, could be used for a comprehensive B-ALL classification. Following comprehensive clinical testing, RNA-Seq was performed on 76 retrospective B-ALL cases, 28 of which had known and 48 had undetermined subtype.

Intrinsic suppression of type I interferon production underlies the therapeutic efficacy of IL-15-producing natural killer cells in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Type I interferons (IFN-Is), secreted by hematopoietic cells, drive immune surveillance of solid tumors. However, the mechanisms of suppression of IFN-I-driven immune responses in hematopoietic malignancies including B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) are unknown.

Methods: Using high-dimensional cytometry, we delineate the defects in IFN-I production and IFN-I-driven immune responses in high-grade primary human and mouse B-ALLs.

MD-ALL: an Integrative Platform for Molecular Diagnosis of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) consists of dozens of subtypes defined by distinct gene expression profiles (GEPs) and various genetic lesions. With the application of transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), multiple novel subtypes have been identified, which lead to an advanced B-ALL classification and risk-stratification system. However, the complexity of analyzing RNA-seq data for B-ALL classification hinders the implementation of the new B-ALL taxonomy.

Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults: understanding pathogenesis, improving outcomes, and future directions for therapy.

Philadelphia (Ph)-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a high-risk subgroup of B cell ALL with distinct genotypes, unified by gene expression profile similar to Ph-positive ALL, but lacking the fusion. Ph-like ALL patients respond inadequately to conventional chemotherapy with higher rates of induction failure, persistent measurable residual disease, and lower survival rates compared to other B cell ALL subtypes. Considering Ph-like ALL's chemo-refractory nature, there is an interest in pursuing innovative therapeutic approaches to treat, including the combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors with frontline regimens, and early introduction of novel antibody-drug conjugates and immunotherapies.

Isoform-specific knockdown of long and intermediate prolactin receptors interferes with evolution of B-cell neoplasms.

Prolactin (PRL) is elevated in B-cell-mediated lymphoproliferative diseases and promotes B-cell survival. Whether PRL or PRL receptors drive the evolution of B-cell malignancies is unknown. We measure changes in B cells after knocking down the pro-proliferative, anti-apoptotic long isoform of the PRL receptor (LFPRLR) in vivo in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)- and B-cell lymphoma-prone mouse models, and the long plus intermediate isoforms (LF/IFPRLR) in human B-cell malignancies.

High response rates and transition to transplant after novel targeted and cellular therapies in adults with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia with Philadelphia-like fusions.

Philadelphia (Ph)-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is associated with a poor response to standard chemotherapy. However, outcomes with novel antibody and cellular therapies in relapsed/refractory (r/r) Ph-like ALL are largely unknown. We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of adult patients (n = 96) with r/r B-ALL and fusions associated with Ph-like who received novel salvage therapies.

alterations in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PAX5, a master regulator of B cell development and maintenance, is one of the most common targets of genetic alterations in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). alterations consist of copy number variations (whole gene, partial, or intragenic), translocations, and point mutations, with distinct distribution across B-ALL subtypes. The multifaceted functional impacts such as haploinsufficiency and gain-of-function of PAX5 depending on specific variants have been described, thereby the connection between the blockage of B cell development and the malignant transformation of normal B cells has been established.

The effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes on diabetic retinal neurodegeneration in a rat model.

Objective: To investigate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hucMSC-Exs) on diabetic retinal neurodegeneration (DRN).

Methods: Exosomes were isolated from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSC) and identified using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and Western blotting (WB). Rats were intraperitoneally injected with Streptozotocin (STZ) to establish a diabetes mellitus model, and blood glucose levels and body weight were assessed.

Novel UHRF1-MYC Axis in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Ubiquitin-like, containing PHD and RING finger domain, (UHRF) family members are overexpressed putative oncogenes in several cancer types. We evaluated the protein abundance of UHRF family members in acute leukemia. A marked overexpression of UHRF1 protein was observed in ALL compared with AML.

Outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in adults with fusions associated with Ph-like ALL.

Allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is a well-established curative modality for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), yet large amounts of data describing alloHCT outcomes in Philadelphia (Ph)-like ALL are lacking. We retrospectively analyzed archived DNA samples from consecutive adults with B-cell Ph-negative ALL who underwent alloHCT in complete remission (CR) (n = 127) at our center between 2006 and 2020. Identification of fusions associated with Ph-like ALL was performed using cumulative results from RNA-seq, conventional cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and whole genome array studies.

Recurrent retinal detachment after pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Background: The recurrence of retinal detachment following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a relatively common complication that can lead to reduced visual acuity and requires further surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors and visual outcomes of recurrent RRD following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with silicone oil tamponade for primary RRD.

Methods: This was a retrospective follow-up study of 343 eyes that underwent initial PPV surgery with silicone oil tamponade for primary RRD.