Clonal evolution with inv(11)(p15q22) and NUP98/DDX10 fusion gene in imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia

Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 2005 Mar;157(2):104-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cancergencyto.2004.06.014.

Abstract

The BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib has shown remarkable efficacy in treating patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In a small portion of patients treated with imatinib, however, the disease may progress to advanced stages, frequently accompanied by cytogenetic clonal evolution with the appearance of additional chromosomal aberrations besides the Philadelphia chromosome. Here we report the appearance of an inv(11)(p15q22) as a clonal evolution in a CML patient undergoing treatment with imatinib. Leukemic cells from the patient were found to express the fusion transcript of NUP98 and DDX10, which is in accordance with previously reported cases of de novo or therapy-related acute myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome with inv(11)(p15q22). Although the patient showed resistance to imatinib with the disease rapidly progressing to blast crisis, sequence analysis failed to reveal any mutation in the kinase domain of BCR/ABL that would explain the imatinib resistance. Furthermore, ex vivo treatment of leukemic cells with imatinib significantly reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of CrkL, a target of the BCR/ABL kinase. These observations raise a possibility that the NUP98/DDX10 fusion might be involved in imatinib resistance as well as in acute transformation of CML.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzamides
  • Chromosome Inversion*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Karyotyping
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • RNA Helicases

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Nup98 protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • nuclear pore complex protein 98
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • DDX10 protein, human
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases
  • RNA Helicases