t(6;9)(p22;q34)/DEK-NUP214-rearranged pediatric myeloid leukemia: an international study of 62 patients

Haematologica. 2014 May;99(5):865-72. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2013.098517. Epub 2014 Jan 17.

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia with t(6;9)(p22;q34) is listed as a distinct entity in the 2008 World Health Organization classification, but little is known about the clinical implications of t(6;9)-positive myeloid leukemia in children. This international multicenter study presents the clinical and genetic characteristics of 62 pediatric patients with t(6;9)/DEK-NUP214-rearranged myeloid leukemia; 54 diagnosed as having acute myeloid leukemia, representing <1% of all childhood acute myeloid leukemia, and eight as having myelodysplastic syndrome. The t(6;9)/DEK-NUP214 was associated with relatively late onset (median age 10.4 years), male predominance (sex ratio 1.7), French-American-British M2 classification (54%), myelodysplasia (100%), and FLT3-ITD (42%). Outcome was substantially better than previously reported with a 5-year event-free survival of 32%, 5-year overall survival of 53%, and a 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse of 57%. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission improved the 5-year event-free survival compared with chemotherapy alone (68% versus 18%; P<0.01) but not the overall survival (68% versus 54%; P=0.48). The presence of FLT3-ITD had a non-significant negative effect on 5-year overall survival compared with non-mutated cases (22% versus 62%; P=0.13). Gene expression profiling showed a unique signature characterized by significantly higher expression of EYA3, SESN1, PRDM2/RIZ, and HIST2H4 genes. In conclusion, t(6;9)/DEK-NUP214 represents a unique subtype of acute myeloid leukemia with a high risk of relapse, high frequency of FLT3-ITD, and a specific gene expression signature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / mortality
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / therapy
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / mortality
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy
  • Male
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / genetics
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / mortality
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / therapy
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins
  • Recurrence
  • Translocation, Genetic*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DEK protein, human
  • NUP214 protein, human
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins