Defining 2 biologically and clinically distinct groups in acute leukemia with a mixed phenotype

P Pallavi Galera (9Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) D Deepika Dilip (1New York Medical College, Valhalla, United States) A Andriy Derkach A Alexander Chan (1Hematopathology Service Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) Y Yanming Zhang S Sonali Persaud (5Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Human Oncogenesis and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) T Tanmay Mishra (5Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Human Oncogenesis and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) K Kyle Kramer (5Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Human Oncogenesis and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) M Mahak Kathpalia (5Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Human Oncogenesis and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) Y Ying Liu C Christopher Famulare (10Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) Q Qi Gao (Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) D Douglas A. Mata (6Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Molecular Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) M Maria Arcila (4Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Molecular Diagnostic Service, Department of Pathology, New York, United States) M Mark B. Geyer (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) E Eytan Stein (3Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Medicine, New York, United States) A Ahmet Dogan (Hematopathology Service, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York) M Mikhail Roshal (1Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States) R Ross L. Levine J Jacob Glass (2Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY) W Wenbin Xiao

Abstract

Abstract A mixed phenotype (MP) is a characteristic of de novo MP acute leukemia (MPAL), but it can also be found in other leukemias. It poses substantial classification and management dilemmas. Herein, we report a large cohort of acute leukemia with MP and define acute myeloid leukemia with MP (AML-MP) and MPAL as 2 distinct groups by characterizing clinical, genetic, and transcriptomic features. Clinically, patients with AML-MP and MPAL were both treated with either AML- or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)–directed induction regimens. AML-MP has inferior responses (hazard ratio, 12.5; 95% confidence interval, 2.72-57.8; P = .001), whereas MPAL has better responses to ALL-directed treatment. Genetically, AML-MP harbors more frequent RUNX1 (23/52 [44%]) and TP53 (12/52 [23.1%]) mutations. In contrast, RUNX1 mutations are less frequent in MPAL (8/35 [23%]; P = .01 vs AML-MP) and TP53 mutations as a driver are virtually absent in MPAL. Transcriptionally, AML-MP shows enrichment for stemness signatures and a relative deficit of transcription factors critical for myeloid and lymphoid differentiation. Furthermore, AML-MP rarely switches to a lymphoid immunophenotype after treatment, in contrast to MPAL (1/40 [2.5%] vs 10/28 [35.7%]; P = .0003). Last, a genomic classification framework is proposed for future studies. Together, these data support the designation of AML-MP as a diagnosis distinct from MPAL and provide novel insights into the pathogenesis and therapies of acute leukemia with MP.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 145, Issue 18
Published May 01, 2025
Pages 2056-2069
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (21)

P

Pallavi Galera

9Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

D

Deepika Dilip

1New York Medical College, Valhalla, United States

A

Andriy Derkach

A

Alexander Chan

1Hematopathology Service Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Y

Yanming Zhang

S

Sonali Persaud

5Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Human Oncogenesis and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

T

Tanmay Mishra

5Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Human Oncogenesis and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

K

Kyle Kramer

5Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Human Oncogenesis and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

M

Mahak Kathpalia

5Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Human Oncogenesis and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Y

Ying Liu

C

Christopher Famulare

10Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Q

Qi Gao

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

D

Douglas A. Mata

6Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Molecular Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

M

Maria Arcila

4Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Molecular Diagnostic Service, Department of Pathology, New York, United States

M

Mark B. Geyer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

E

Eytan Stein

3Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Medicine, New York, United States

A

Ahmet Dogan

Hematopathology Service, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York

M

Mikhail Roshal

1Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States

R

Ross L. Levine

J

Jacob Glass

2Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

W

Wenbin Xiao