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Acute Leukemias

EVI1 overexpression in distinct subtypes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia

Leukemia volume 24, pages 942–949 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Overexpression of the ecotropic virus integration-1 (EVI1) gene (EVI1+), localized at chromosome 3q26, is associated with adverse outcome in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In pediatric AML, 3q26 abnormalities are rare, and the role of EVI1 is unknown. We studied 228 pediatric AML samples for EVI1+ using gene expression profiling and RQ-PCR. EVI1+ was found in 20/213 (9%) of children with de novo AML, and in 4/8 with secondary AML. It was predominantly found in MLL-rearranged AML (13/47), monosomy 7 (2/3), or FAB M6/7 (6/10), and mutually exclusive with core-binding factor AML, t(15;17), and NPM1 mutations. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to detect cryptic 3q26 abnormalities. However, none of the EVI1+ patients harbored structural 3q26 alterations. Although significant differences in 4 years pEFS for EVI1+ and EVI1− pediatric AML were observed (28%±11 vs 44%±4, P=0.04), multivariate analysis did not identify EVI1+ as an independent prognostic factor. We conclude that EVI1+ can be found in ∼10% of pediatric AML. Although EVI1+ was not an independent prognostic factor, it was predominantly found in subtypes of pediatric AML that are related with an intermediate to unfavorable prognosis. Further research should explain the role of EVI1+ in disease biology in these cases. Remarkably, no 3q26 abnormalities were identified in EVI1+ pediatric AML.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the NWO ‘Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research’ (BVB), KOCR ‘Kinder-Oncologisch Centrum Rotterdam’ (BVB and IHH) and EHA (SL).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Erasmus MC—Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    B V Balgobind, I H Hollink, S T J C M Arentsen-Peters, R Pieters, C M Zwaan & M M van den Heuvel-Eibrink

  2. Deparment of Hematology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    S Lugthart & R Delwel

  3. Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG), The Hague, The Netherlands

    E R van Wering & S S N de Graaf

  4. Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, University Medical Center St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    S S N de Graaf

  5. Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, AML-BFM Study Group, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    D Reinhardt & M Zimmermann

  6. Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, AML-BFM Study Group, University Hospital, Munster, Germany

    U Creutzig

  7. Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    G J L Kaspers

  8. Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    E S J M de Bont

  9. Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Second Medical School, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    J Stary & J Trka

  10. Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    H B Beverloo

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  1. B V Balgobind
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Correspondence to M M van den Heuvel-Eibrink.

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Author contribution

BVB designed and performed research and wrote the paper. SL and RD designed research. IHH designed and performed research. HBB performed FISH analysis. EW, SSNG, GJK, DR, UC, JS, and JT made this research possible by collecting patient samples and characteristics in their own study groups and providing additional information. MMH-E, CMZ, and RP designed and supervised research and wrote the paper.

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Balgobind, B., Lugthart, S., Hollink, I. et al. EVI1 overexpression in distinct subtypes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 24, 942–949 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2010.47

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