SF3B1 and other novel cancer genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

N Engl J Med
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The somatic genetic basis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a common and clinically heterogeneous leukemia occurring in adults, remains poorly understood.

METHODS: We obtained DNA samples from leukemia cells in 91 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and performed massively parallel sequencing of 88 whole exomes and whole genomes, together with sequencing of matched germline DNA, to characterize the spectrum of somatic mutations in this disease.

RESULTS: Nine genes that are mutated at significant frequencies were identified, including four with established roles in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (TP53 in 15% of patients, ATM in 9%, MYD88 in 10%, and NOTCH1 in 4%) and five with unestablished roles (SF3B1, ZMYM3, MAPK1, FBXW7, and DDX3X). SF3B1, which functions at the catalytic core of the spliceosome, was the second most frequently mutated gene (with mutations occurring in 15% of patients). SF3B1 mutations occurred primarily in tumors with deletions in chromosome 11q, which are associated with a poor prognosis in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We further discovered that tumor samples with mutations in SF3B1 had alterations in pre-messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study defines the landscape of somatic mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and highlights pre-mRNA splicing as a critical cellular process contributing to chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Year of Publication
2011
Journal
N Engl J Med
Volume
365
Issue
26
Pages
2497-506
Date Published
2011 Dec 29
ISSN
1533-4406
URL
DOI
10.1056/NEJMoa1109016
PubMed ID
22150006
PubMed Central ID
PMC3685413
Links
Grant list
5R21CA115043-2 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U54 HG003067 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM043375-19 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R21 CA115043-02 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U54HG003067 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
K23 CA115682 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
K23 CA115682-05 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R21 CA115043 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States
R56 GM043375 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
U54 HG003067-11 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
GM43375 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM043375 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States