Clonal Compositions Involving Epigenetic Regulator Gene Mutations in Clonal Hematopoiesis, Clonal Cytopenias of Undetermined Significance and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Authors: Xie Zhuoer , Campestri Gina , Lasho Terra , Finke Christy , Li Marissa , Binder Moritz , Robertson Keith , Fernandez Jenna , Hyun Meredith C. , Komrokji Rami S. , Zeidan Amer M. , Bewersdorf Jan Philipp , Zeidner Joshua F. , Coombs Catherine C. , Madanat Yazan F. , Griffiths Elizabeth A. , Lai Catherine , Savona Michael R. , Shah Mithun V. , Litzow Mark R. , Tefferi Ayalew , Mangaonkar Abhishek A. , Gangat Naseema , Al-Kali Aref , Patnaik Mrinal M. 
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is defined by the presence and subsequent expansion of leukemia-associated driver mutations (MT). These MT predominantly involve epigenetic regulators such as DNMT3A, ASXL1, and TET2 (DAT, 75%). CHIP is a disease of aging and is associated with increased all-cause mortality. Clonal Hematopoiesis (CH), when present in the context of unexplained cytopenias and MT variant allele fractions (VAF) &gt;20%, is termed as clonal cytopenias of undetermined significance (CCUS). Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a hematological malignancy characterized by TET2, ASXL1, and SRSF2MT as well as sustained monocytosis. It usually arises in the setting of existing CH and clonal monocytosis. Here, we assessed the clonal compositions involving DAT genes in patients (pts) with CHIP, CCUS, and CMML.

Methods: We included 1008 pts: 54 (5%) with CHIP, 334 (33%) with CCUS, and 620 (62%) with CMML. Demographics, laboratory parameters, and mutational spectrum at diagnosis were collected. We characterized and compared DAT MT in all three cohorts and assessed correlations with clinical parameters. MT locus and type along with protein sequences were analyzed using ProteinPaint. All statistical analyses were performed using R.

Results: Of the 1008 pts, 427 (42%) had DAT MT; 36 had CHIP (67%); 96 had CCUS (29%), and 296 had CMML (48%). The median age was 71 years (IQR 65-76), and 68% were male. CMML pts had higher white blood cell counts, absolute neutrophil counts, absolute monocyte counts, and lower hemoglobin and platelet counts in comparison to CCUS and CHIP pts. The distribution of age and sex were similar among the three groups. After a median follow-up of 11 months (IQR 9.5-12.8), there were no myeloid progressions in the CHIP group and 17 (18%) in the CCUS group (8 of which developed CMML, Table 1).

There were 738 protein-altering or splice-site DATMT in 495 unique MT hotspots. Pts with TET2MT were older (71 years, compared to DNMT3AMT: 69 years and ASXL1MT: 69 years , p&lt;0.022). ASXL1MT were more common in males (75%, compared to DNMT3AMT: 52% and TET2MT: 66%, p=0.005). The mean VAF (mVAF) were 15.5% for DNMT3AMT, 35% for ASXL1MT and 39.2% TET2MT, respectively (p&lt;0.001). We then compared DATMT characteristics in CHIP, CCUS, and CMML groups: DNMT3AMT were most common in CHIP, followed by CCUS, and were very rare in CMML (35% vs. 15% vs. 3%, p&lt;0.001), with mVAF of DNMT3AMT increasing across this spectrum (CHIP: 6.5% vs. CCUS: 17.1% vs. CMML: 43.4%, p&lt;0.0001). While DNMT3A missense MTs were most common (n=62, 67.4%), the AML-associated R882 hotspot MT was seen in 26 (28%) pts (CHIP: n=3, 5%, CCUS: n=10, 16%, and CMML n=13, 21%, Figure 1a). None of the DNMT3AMT CHIP and CCUS pts progressed to CMML.ASXL1MT were most frequently seen in CMML (n=178, 28.6%), followed by CHIP (n=4, 7.4%), and CCUS (n=17, 5%, p&lt;0.001). The mVAF of ASXL1MT was significantly lower in CHIP, followed by CCUS, and CMML (11% vs. 34% vs. 36%, p&lt;0.0001). Truncating ASXL1 MTs were most common (n=205, 53%). Mutational hotspots included G646W (n=81, CCUS: n=6, 3%, CMML: n=75, 37%) and E635 (n=27, CHIP: n=1, 0.5%, CCUS: n=1, 0.5%, CMML: n=27, 13%, Figure 1b). Four ASXL1MT CCUS pts transformed to CMML (R965, E635, G646W, Q910*, and Q925*); of which 2 co-mutated with TET2MT, one with SRSF2MT, and one with an additional ASXL1MT.TET2MT were frequently encountered in CMML, followed by CCUS and CHIP pts (CMML: n=205, 33% vs. CCUS: n=88, 26.3% vs. CHIP: n=15, 27.8%, p=0.02). The mVAF of TET2MT progressively increased across the 3 groups (CHIP: 14.1%, CCUS: 31.9%, CMML: 45.5%, p&lt;0.001). TET2MT occurred across the span of the gene, with no clear hotspots identified, with nonsense MT being most frequent (n=150, 37.3%, Figure 1c). Among the nonsense and frameshift TET2MT (n=209), 131 (63%) involved the N terminal region, and 78 (37%) involved the catalytic domain. Among 8 CCUS pts that transformed to CMML, 6 had TET2MT, including 4 with spliceosome co-MT.

Conclusion: While CMML, a disease of aging, arises in the background of CH, the most common CH MT, DNMT3AMT, plays a minor role in this process, and in fact, DNMT3AMT tend to occur at younger ages. While DNMT3A MT and ASXL1MT are preferentially observed in hotspots, TET2MT span the entire gene. Clonal compositions largely involving truncating TET2MT and frameshift ASXL1MT, in conjunction with splicing MT, shape the CMML genotype.

Figure 1 Figure 1.

Disclosures

Komrokji: Geron: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; JAZZ: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Acceleron: Honoraria. Zeidan: Genentech: Consultancy; BeyondSpring: Consultancy; Kura: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cardiff Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Astex: Research Funding; Epizyme: Consultancy; Geron: Other: Clinical Trial Committees; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Acceleron: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Travel support, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy; Aprea: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding; Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees; Pfizer: Other: Travel support, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees; BMS: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ionis: Consultancy; Jasper: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; BioCryst: Other: Clinical Trial Committees. Coombs: LOXO: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria; Genentech: Honoraria; MEI Pharma: Honoraria. Madanat: Blue Print Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Stem line pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Onc Live: Honoraria; Geron Pharmaceutical: Consultancy. Griffiths: Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Taiho Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria. Lai: Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharma: Speakers Bureau; Macrogenics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Savona: CTI: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Geron: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS-Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ryvu: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; ALX Oncology: Research Funding; Astex: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Litzow: AbbVie: Research Funding; Actinium: Research Funding; Pluristem: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Jazz: Other: Advisory Board; Omeros: Other: Advisory Board; Biosight: Other: Data monitoring committee. Al-Kali: Novartis: Research Funding; Astex: Other: Research support to institution. Patnaik: StemLine: Research Funding; Kura Oncology: Research Funding.