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Gene expression profiling separates chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in two molecular subtypes

Leukemia volume 21, pages 2359–2362 (2007)Cite this article

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a heterogeneous hematopoietic disease currently classified by the WHO organization as an entity close to, but separate from, both myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). It is included in the mixed category of MPD/MDS diseases and is defined by persistent peripheral monocytosis (>1 × 109/l), less than 20% blasts in the bone marrow and a variable degree of bone marrow dysplasia. Because of the blast pronostic factor, CMML is divided into two types: type 1 with less than 10% blasts and type 2 between 10 and 19%.1, 2, 3

The problem of CMML resides in its classification and in the clinical and/or biological relevance of separating the proliferative and dysplastic presentations. The FAB system has recommended a division of CMML into two groups upon leukocyte count: leukocytosis <13 × 109/l defines CMML as MDS-like (MD-CMML) and leukocytosis >13 × 109/l as MPD-like (MP-CMML). The two groups have been variably associated with prognosis, and their distinction is a matter of debate.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 This reflects that, except in a few imatinib-sensitive cases with PDGFRB alterations, the pathogenesis of CMML is poorly understood. Consequently, the definition and therapy of CMML remain unsatisfactory. To both better understand the disease and improve the classification of CMML, we have profiled a series of CMMLs by using DNA microarrays, and compared it with MDS and MPD cases.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Inserm, Institut Paoli-Calmettes and grants from Institut National du Cancer (Cancéropôle PACA/IDF ACI2005, PHRC no. 24-33 2005). We thank C Chabannon for the biobanking.

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Author notes

  1. V Gelsi-Boyer and N Cervera: These authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR599 Inserm,

    V Gelsi-Boyer, N Cervera, F Bertucci, V Trouplin, V Remy, S Olschwang, M Chaffanet, M-J Mozziconacci & D Birnbaum

  2. Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Laboratoire d’Oncologie Moléculaire,

    V Gelsi-Boyer, N Cervera, F Bertucci, V Trouplin, V Remy, S Olschwang, M Chaffanet, M-J Mozziconacci & D Birnbaum

  3. Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France

    V Gelsi-Boyer, N Cervera, F Bertucci, V Trouplin, V Remy, S Olschwang, M Chaffanet, M-J Mozziconacci & D Birnbaum

  4. Département de BioPathologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France

    V Gelsi-Boyer, V Trouplin & M-J Mozziconacci

  5. Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France

    V Gelsi-Boyer & F Bertucci

  6. Département d’Hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France

    N Vey

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  1. V Gelsi-Boyer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D Birnbaum.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Leukemia website (http://www.nature.com/leu)

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Gelsi-Boyer, V., Cervera, N., Bertucci, F. et al. Gene expression profiling separates chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in two molecular subtypes. Leukemia 21, 2359–2362 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404805

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