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Activating mutations in the NOTCH1 pathway are frequent in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) but their role in refining risk stratification is unclear. We screened 162 pediatric T-ALL patients treated on the MRC UKALL2003 trial for NOTCH1/FBXW7 gene mutations and related genotype to response to therapy and long-term outcome. Overall, 35% were wild-type (WT) for both genes (NOTCH1(WT)FBXW7(WT)), 38% single NOTCH1 mutant (NOTCH1(Single)FBXW7(WT)), 3% just FBXW7 mutant (NOTCH1(WT)FBXW7(MUT)) and 24% either double NOTCH1 mutant (NOTCH1(Double)FBXW7(WT)) or mutant in both genes (NOTCH1(MUT)FBXW7(MUT)), hereafter called as NOTCH1±FBXW7(Double). There was no difference between groups in early response to therapy, but NOTCH1±FBXW7(Double) patients were more likely to be associated with negative minimal residual disease (MRD) post-induction than NOTCH1(WT)FBXW7(WT) patients (71% versus 40%, P=0.004). Outcome improved according to the number of mutations, overall survival at 5 years 82%, 88% and 100% for NOTCH1(WT)FBXW7(WT), NOTCH1(Single)FBXW7(WT) and NOTCH1±FBXW7(Double) patients, respectively (log-rank P for trend=0.005). Although 14 NOTCH1±FBXW7(Double) patients were classified as high risk (slow response and/or MRD positive), only two had disease progression and all remain alive. Patients with double NOTCH1 and/or FBXW7 mutations have a very good outcome and should not be considered for more intensive therapy in first remission, even if slow early responders or MRD positive after induction therapy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/leu.2012.176

Type

Journal article

Journal

Leukemia

Publication Date

01/2013

Volume

27

Pages

41 - 47

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Asparaginase, Cell Cycle Proteins, Child, Child, Preschool, Cohort Studies, DNA, Neoplasm, Daunorubicin, Dexamethasone, F-Box Proteins, F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7, Female, Genotype, Humans, Infant, Male, Mutation, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma, Prognosis, Receptor, Notch1, Remission Induction, Survival Rate, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Vincristine, Young Adult