Ann Lab Med.  2019 Mar;39(2):125-132. 10.3343/alm.2019.39.2.125.

T-Cell Receptor Rearrangements Determined Using Fragment Analysis in Patients With T-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

• Kim H
• Kim IS
• Chang CL
• Kong SY
• Lim YT
• Kong SG
• Cho EH
• Lee EY
• Shin HJ
• Park HJ
• Eom HS
• Lee H

• KMID: 2425967
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2019.39.2.125

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Chromosomal abnormalities and common genetic rearrangements related to T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) are not clear. We investigated T-cell receptor (TCR) rearrangement in Korean T-ALL patients by fragment analysis, examining frequency, association between clinicopathologic characteristics and TCR clonality, and feasibility for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD).
METHODS
In 51 Korean patients diagnosed as having T-ALL, TCR rearrangement was analyzed using the IdentiClone TCR gene clonality assay (InVivoScribe Technologies, San Diego, CA, USA) from archived bone marrow specimens. Limit of detection (LOD) and clonal stability at relapse were evaluated. The association between clinical prognosis and TCR clonality was examind by age and immunophenotypic classification.
RESULTS
Thirty-eight patients (74.5%) had 62 clonal products of TCRβ, TCRγ, and/or TCRδ rearrangements at diagnosis. Children with T-ALL ( < 12 years) showed a higher frequency of clonality (93.8%) than adolescents/adults (65.7%; ≥12 years). Patients with a mature immunophenotype (84.4%) showed a relatively higher frequency of clonality than those with the immature immunophenotype (57.9%). Survival and event-free survival were not influenced by immunophenotype or TCR clonality. The LOD was 1%. Clonal evolution at the relapse period was noted.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall detection rate of TCR clonality was 74.5%. Survival did not differ by TCR clonality or immunophenotype and age group. Fragment analysis of TCR rearrangement cannot be used to assess MRD due to low sensitivity. Further research on the relationship between prognosis and frequency of TCR rearrangements is needed, using more sensitive methods to detect clonality and monitor MRD.

Keyword

T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia; T-cell receptor; Clonality; Minimal residual disease; Fragment analysis

MeSH Terms

Bone Marrow
Child
Chromosome Aberrations
Classification
Clonal Evolution
Diagnosis
Disease-Free Survival
Genes, T-Cell Receptor
Humans
Limit of Detection
Neoplasm, Residual
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma*
Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
Prognosis
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell*
Recurrence
T-Lymphocytes*
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell

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