Targeted treatment options for paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients with constitutional or somatic chromosome 21 alterations

Background: 

Chromosome 21 is affected in ∼60% of paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP-ALL) patients and includes somatic and constitutional gains, intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21), and the translocation t(12;21) resulting in the ETV6::RUNX1 gene fusion. 

Methods: 

Since these numeric and structural chromosome 21 alterations are not targetable, we studied the type and frequency of yet-proven targetable events co-occurring with chromosome 21 alterations.

Results: 

Among 307 primary paediatric BCP-ALL cases, JAK/STAT pathway lesions were most frequent in patients with constitutional gain of chromosome 21 (Down syndrome ALL; 35/71, 49%) and iAMP21 (9/22, 41%). RAS pathway lesions were most frequent in high hyperdiploidy (62/108, 57%) and FLT3 lesions were most frequent in iAMP21 (7/22, 32%). Virtually all cases expressed CD19 and CD22 at the cell surface. Positivity for CD20 surface expression ranged from 67% in iAMP21 (8/12) to 20% in ETV6::RUNX1 (26/129). 

Conclusion: 

Activated JAK/STAT, RAS or FLT3 signalling, and CD marker surface expression may provide targetable treatment options for the majority of chromosome 21-altered BCP-ALL cases.