Clinicopathologic Features and Outcomes of Acute Leukemia Harboring PICALM::MLLT10 Fusion.

The PICALM::MLLT10 fusion is a rare but recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in acute leukemia, with limited clinicopathologic and outcome data available. Herein, we analyzed 156 acute leukemia patients with PICALM::MLLT10 fusion, including 12 patients from our institutions and 144 patients from the literature. The PICALM::MLLT10 fusion preferentially manifested in pediatric and young adult patients, with a median age of 24 years. T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL) constituted 65% of cases, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 27%, and acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage (ALAL) 8%. About half of T-ALL were classified as an early T-precursor (ETP)-ALL. In our institutions' cohort, mediastinum was the most common extramedullary site of involvement. Eight of 12 patients were diagnosed with T-ALL exhibiting a pro-/pre-T stage phenotype (CD4/CD8-double negative, CD7-positive), and frequent CD79a expression. NGS revealed pathogenic mutations in 5 of 6 tested cases, including NOTCH1, and genes in RAS and JAK-STAT pathways and epigenetic modifiers. Of 138 cases with follow-up, pediatric patients (<18 years) had 5-year overall survival (OS) of 71%, significantly better than adults at 33%. The 5-year OS for AML patients was 25%, notably shorter than T-ALL patients at 54%; this distinction was observed in both pediatric and adult populations. Furthermore, adult but not pediatric ETP-ALL patients demonstrated inferior survival compared to non-ETP-ALL patients. Neither karyotype complexity nor transplant status had a discernible impact on OS. In conclusion, PICALM::MLLT10 fusion is most commonly seen in T-ALL patients, particularly those with an ETP phenotype. AML and adult ETP-ALL patients had adverse prognosis. PICALM::MLTT10 fusion testing should be considered in T-ALL, AML, and ALAL patients.

Dual T-cell constant ß chain (TRBC)1 and TRBC2 staining for the identification of T-cell neoplasms by flow cytometry.

The diagnosis of leukemic T-cell malignancies is often challenging, due to overlapping features with reactive T-cells and limitations of currently available T-cell clonality assays. Recently developed therapeutic antibodies specific for the mutually exclusive T-cell receptor constant ß chain (TRBC)1 and TRBC2 isoforms provide a unique opportunity to assess for TRBC-restriction as a surrogate of clonality in the flow cytometric analysis of T-cell neoplasms. To demonstrate the diagnostic utility of this approach, we studied 164 clinical specimens with (60) or without (104) T-cell neoplasia, in addition to 39 blood samples from healthy donors. Dual TRBC1 and TRBC2 expression was studied within a comprehensive T-cell panel, in a fashion similar to the routine evaluation of kappa and lambda immunoglobulin light chains for the detection of clonal B-cells. Polytypic TRBC expression was demonstrated on total, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells from all healthy donors; and by intracellular staining on benign T-cell precursors. All neoplastic T-cells were TRBC-restricted, except for 8 cases (13%) lacking TRBC expression. T-cell clones of uncertain significance were identified in 17 samples without T-cell malignancy (13%) and accounted for smaller subsets than neoplastic clones (median: 4.7 vs. 69% of lymphocytes, p < 0.0001). Single staining for TRBC1 produced spurious TRBC1-dim subsets in 24 clinical specimens (15%), all of which resolved with dual TRBC1/2 staining. Assessment of TRBC restriction by flow cytometry provides a rapid diagnostic method to detect clonal T-cells, and to accurately determine the targetable TRBC isoform expressed by T-cell malignancies.

Computational Flow Cytometry Accurately Identifies Sezary Cells Based on Simplified Aberrancy and Clonality Features.

Flow cytometric identification of circulating neoplastic cells (Sezary cells) in patients with mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome is essential for diagnosis, staging, and prognosis. Although recent advances have improved the performance of this laboratory assay, the complex immunophenotype of Sezary cells and overlap with reactive T cells demand a high level of analytic expertise. We utilized machine learning to simplify this analysis using only 2 predefined Sezary cell-gating plots. We studied 114 samples from 59 patients with Sezary syndrome/mycosis fungoides and 66 samples from unique patients with inflammatory dermatoses. A single dimensionality reduction plot highlighted all TCR constant ß chain-restricted (clonal) CD3+/CD4+ T cells detected by expert analysis. On receiver operator curve analysis, an aberrancy scale feature computed by comparison with controls (area under the curve = 0.98) outperformed loss of CD2 (0.76), CD3 (0.83), CD7 (0.77), and CD26 (0.82) in discriminating Sezary cells from reactive CD4+ T cells. Our results closely mirrored those obtained by exhaustive expert analysis for event classification (positive percentage agreement = 100%, negative percentage agreement = 99%) and Sezary cell quantitation (regression slope = 1.003, R squared = 0.9996). We demonstrate the potential of machine learning to simplify the accurate identification of Sezary cells.

Activity of tafasitamab in combination with rituximab in subtypes of aggressive lymphoma.

Background: Despite recent advances in the treatment of aggressive lymphomas, a significant fraction of patients still succumbs to their disease. Thus, novel therapies are urgently needed. As the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab and the CD19-targeting antibody tafasitamab share distinct modes of actions, we investigated if dual-targeting of aggressive lymphoma B-cells by combining rituximab and tafasitamab might increase cytotoxic effects. Methods: Antibody single and combination efficacy was determined investigating different modes of action including direct cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) in in vitro and in vivo models of aggressive B-cell lymphoma comprising diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL). Results: Three different sensitivity profiles to antibody monotherapy or combination treatment were observed in in vitro models: while 1/11 cell lines was primarily sensitive to tafasitamab and 2/11 to rituximab, the combination resulted in enhanced cell death in 8/11 cell lines in at least one mode of action. Treatment with either antibody or the combination resulted in decreased expression of the oncogenic transcription factor MYC and inhibition of AKT signaling, which mirrored the cell line-specific sensitivities to direct cytotoxicity. At last, the combination resulted in a synergistic survival benefit in a PBMC-humanized Ramos NOD/SCID mouse model. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the combination of tafasitamab and rituximab improves efficacy compared to single-agent treatments in models of aggressive B-cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo.

Establishing NK-Cell Receptor Restriction by Flow Cytometry and Detecting Potential NK-Cell Clones of Uncertain Significance.

Natural killer (NK) cells develop a complex inhibitory and/or activating NK-cell receptor system, including killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs or CD158) and CD94/NKG2 dimers, which are variably combined to generate the individual's NK-cell receptor repertoire. Establishing NK-cell receptor restriction by flow cytometric immunophenotyping is an important step in diagnosing NK-cell neoplasms, but reference interval (RI) data for interpreting these studies are lacking. Specimens from 145 donors and 63 patients with NK-cell neoplasms were used to identify discriminatory rules based on 95% and 99% nonparametric RIs for CD158a+, CD158b+, CD158e+, KIR-negative, and NKG2A+ NK-cell populations to establish NK-cell receptor restriction. These 99% upper RI limits (NKG2a >88% or CD158a >53% or CD158b >72% or CD158e >54% or KIR-negative >72%) provided optimal discrimination between NK-cell neoplasm cases and healthy donor controls with an accuracy of 100% compared with the clinicopathologic diagnosis. The selected rules were applied to 62 consecutive samples received in our flow cytometry laboratory that were reflexed to an NK-cell panel due to an expanded NK-cell percentage (exceeding 40% of total lymphocytes). Twenty-two (35%) of 62 samples were found to harbor a very small NK-cell population with restricted NK-cell receptor expression based on the rule combination, suggestive of NK-cell clonality. A thorough clinicopathologic evaluation for the 62 patients did not reveal diagnostic features of NK-cell neoplasms; therefore, these potential clonal populations of NK cells were designated as NK-cell clones of uncertain significance (NK-CUS). In this study, we established decision rules for NK-cell receptor restriction from the largest published cohorts of healthy donors and NK-cell neoplasms. The presence of small NK-cell populations with restricted NK-cell receptors does not appear to be an uncommon finding, and its significance requires further exploration.

The lymph node transcriptome of unicentric and idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease.

Castleman disease is a polyclonal lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by unicentric or multicentric lymphadenopathy with characteristic histomorphological features, in addition to variable inflammatory symptomatology. The molecular mechanisms and etiologies of unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) and idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) are poorly understood, and identification of targetable disease mediators remains an unmet clinical need. We performed whole exome sequencing on lymph node biopsies from patients with UCD and iMCD and compared the transcriptomic profiles to that of benign control lymph nodes. We identified significantly upregulated genes in UCD (n=443), iMCD (n=316) or both disease subtypes (n=51) and downregulated genes in UCD (n=321), iMCD (n=105) or both (n=10). The transcriptomes of UCD and iMCD showed enrichment and upregulation of elements of the complement cascade. By immunohistochemistry, C4d deposits indicative of complement activation were found to be present in UCD and iMCD, mostly within abnormally regressed germinal centers, but also in association with plasma cell clusters, endothelial cells and stroma cell proliferations. Other enriched gene sets included collagen organization, S1P3 pathway and VEGFR pathway in UCD; and humoral response, oxidative phosphorylation and proteosome in iMCD. Analysis of cytokine transcripts showed upregulation of CXCL13 but not IL6 in UCD and iMCD. Among angiogenic mediators, the VEGFR1 ligand placental growth factor (PGF) was upregulated in both disease subtypes. We hereby report for the first time the whole lymph node transcriptomes of UCD and iMCD, underscoring findings that could aid in the discovery of targetable disease mediators.

Iron-laden blasts in refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

We report a case of refractory acute myeloid leukemia with DEK-NUP214 rearrangement showing circulating monocytic blasts with abundant green cytoplasmic granules on the Wright-Giemsa stain. The granules were strongly positive for Perls' Prussian blue, consistent with hemosiderin deposits. This previously unreported finding is suggestive of siderophage activity by leukemic blasts, likely associated with monocytic differentiation.

Abnormal CD13/HLA-DR Expression Pattern on Myeloblasts Predicts Development of Myeloid Neoplasia in Patients With Clonal Cytopenia of Undetermined Significance.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS) are at increased risk of developing myeloid neoplasia (MN). We evaluated whether a simple flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCIP) assay could differentiate the risk of development of MN in patients with CCUS. METHODS: Bone marrow aspirates were assessed by FCIP panel in a cohort of 80 patients identified as having CCUS based on next-generation sequencing or cytogenetics from March 2015 to May 2020, with available samples. Flow cytometric assay included CD13/HLA-DR expression pattern on CD34-positive myeloblasts; CD13/CD16 pattern on maturing granulocytic precursors; and aberrant expression of CD2, CD7, or CD56 on CD34-positive myeloblasts. Relevant demographic, comorbidity, and clinical and laboratory data, including the type and extent of genetic abnormalities, were extracted from the electronic health record. RESULTS: In total, 17 (21%) patients with CCUS developed MN over the follow-up period (median survival follow-up, 28 months [95% confidence interval, 19-31]). Flow cytometry immunophenotyping abnormalities, including the aberrant pattern of CD13/HLA-DR expression, as detected at the time of the diagnosis of CCUS, were significantly associated with risk of developing MN (hazard ratio, 2.97; P = .006). Additional FCIP parameters associated with the development of MN included abnormal expression of CD7 on myeloblasts and the presence vs absence of any FCIP abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: A simple FCIP approach that includes assessment of CD13/HLA-DR pattern on CD34-positive myeloblasts can be useful in identifying patients with CCUS at higher risk of developing MN.

Recurrent Chromosomal Abnormalities in Tissues Involved by Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES: Prognostically relevant chromosomal abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) are routinely identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on peripheral blood or bone marrow specimens. We studied the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities on extramedullary tissues involved by CLL/SLL and evaluated their association with prominent proliferation centers (PPCs). METHODS: FISH for recurrent abnormalities in CLL/SLL was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy sections. PPCs were identified on H&E-stained sections. Available FISH results on peripheral blood or bone marrow specimens were also reviewed. RESULTS: Recurrent FISH abnormalities were detected in 69% of 320 CLL/SLL biopsy specimens studied, including +12 (35%), 13q- (24%), 11q- (15%), 17p- (6%), 6q- (2%), and IGH/BCL2 (0.9%). Forty-three patients had abnormal blood or bone marrow FISH analyses, of whom 7 (16%) had discordant +12 and/or 13q-, and 3 (7%) had discordant 17p- or 11q-. Morphology was positive (17%), negative (78%), or equivocal (6%) for PPCs on 247 evaluable biopsy specimens, a finding not significantly associated with FISH results (P = .7). CONCLUSIONS: Trisomy 12 is overrepresented in tumoral CLL/SLL involvement, compared with the known predominance of 13q- in blood. Discrepancies between leukemic and tissue FISH findings are occasionally encountered. FISH results do not correlate with the presence of PPCs.

Flow Cytometric Evaluation of Surface and Cytoplasmic TRBC1 Expression in the Differential Diagnosis of Immature T-Cell Proliferations.

OBJECTIVES: Flow cytometric detection of T-cell clonality is challenging, particularly in differential diagnosis of immature T-cell proliferations. Studies have shown utility of TRBC1, in conjunction with other T-cell markers, as reliable means to identify T-cell clonality by flow cytometry. One limitation of surface TRBC1 (sTRBC1) evaluation is it cannot be detected in surface CD3 (sCD3)-negative T cells, such as normal or abnormal immature T-cell precursors. Here, we assess surface and cytoplasmic TRBC1 expression patterns in the differential diagnosis of T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL) vs normal thymocyte expansions. METHODS: Forty-three samples containing T-ALL, thymoma, normal thymus, and/or indolent T-lymphoblastic proliferation (i-TLBP), were evaluated. RESULTS: All 24 cases with normal thymocytes or i-TLBPs revealed a characteristic and reproducible sCD3/sTRBC1 expression pattern indicative of polytypic T-cell maturation. In contrast, all 19 T-ALLs lacked this polytypic maturation pattern and were either completely negative for sCD3/sTRBC1 or showed a minor sCD3-positive subset with a monotypic TRBC1 expression pattern. Cytoplasmic TRBC1 evaluation in 9 T-ALLs demonstrated a monotypic intracellular TRBC1-positive (n = 4) or TRBC1-negative (n = 5) expression, indicative of clonality. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate flow cytometric evaluation of surface and cytoplasmic TRBC1 expression can aid detection of T-cell clonality and differential diagnosis of immature T-cell proliferations.

CD2 and CD7 are sensitive flow cytometry screening markers for T-lineage acute leukemia(s): a study of 465 acute leukemia cases.

T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) is a rare acute leukemia that expresses cytoplasmic CD3 (cCD3) and frequently lacks surface CD3. Given that routine flow cytometric testing for cCD3 may not be feasible and cCD3 interpretation may be difficult, we investigate if surface CD2 and/or CD7 expression on blasts can be used by flow cytometry to screen for T-lineage acute leukemia. We retrospectively reviewed flow cytometric data from 233 acute leukemias (36 T-ALL/LBL, 8 mixed-phenotype acute leukemia T/myeloid, 80 acute myeloid leukemia, 97 B-ALL/LBL, 8 mixed-phenotype acute leukemia B/myeloid, and 4 acute undifferentiated leukemia cases). Uniform expression (≥75% of blasts) of CD2 and/or CD7 was seen in all 44 cCD3-positive cases but in only 11% (20/189) of cCD3-negative acute leukemias, thus demonstrating 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity in the identification of cCD3-positive (T-lineage) acute leukemia. To avoid selection bias, we prospectively studied 232 consecutive acute leukemias for which cCD3, CD2, and CD7 were automatically performed in all cases. Similar to the retrospective study, uniform expression of CD2 and/or CD7 on blasts showed 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity in the screening for cCD3-positive (T-lineage) acute leukemia. Therefore, acute leukemias with uniform expression of CD2 and/or CD7 warrant further testing for cCD3 to evaluate for T-lineage acute leukemia. Blasts that lack both uniform CD2 and CD7 expression do not require additional cCD3 testing. We propose that CD2 and CD7 could be utilized in a limited antibody flow cytometry panel as a sensitive, robust, and cost-effective way to screen for T-lineage acute leukemia.

Emerging Role of T-cell Receptor Constant ß Chain-1 (TRBC1) Expression in the Flow Cytometric Diagnosis of T-cell Malignancies.

T-cell clonality testing is integral to the diagnostic work-up of T-cell malignancies; however, current methods lack specificity and sensitivity, which can make the diagnostic process difficult. The recent discovery of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for human TRBC1 will greatly improve the outlook for T-cell malignancy diagnostics. The anti-TRBC1 mAb can be used in flow cytometry immunophenotyping assays to provide a low-cost, robust, and highly specific test that detects clonality of immunophenotypically distinct T-cell populations. Recent studies demonstrate the clinical utility of this approach in several contexts; use of this antibody in appropriately designed flow cytometry panels improves detection of circulating disease in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, eliminates the need for molecular clonality testing in the context of large granular lymphocyte leukemia, and provides more conclusive results in the context of many other T-cell disorders. It is worth noting that the increased ability to detect discrete clonal T-cell populations means that identification of T-cell clones of uncertain clinical significance (T-CUS) will become more common. This review discusses this new antibody and describes how it defines clonal T-cells. We present and discuss assay design and summarize findings to date about the use of flow cytometry TRBC1 analysis in the field of diagnostics, including lymph node and fluid sample investigations. We also make suggestions about how to apply the assay results in clinical work-ups, including how to interpret and report findings of T-CUS. Finally, we highlight areas that we think will benefit from further research.

Single-Antibody Evaluation of T-Cell Receptor ß Constant Chain Monotypia by Flow Cytometry Facilitates the Diagnosis of T-Cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia.

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) is challenging because of overlapping immunophenotypic features with reactive T cells and limitations of T-cell clonality assays. We studied whether adding an antibody against T-cell receptor ß constant region 1 (TRBC1) to a comprehensive flow cytometry panel could facilitate the diagnosis of T-LGLL. METHODS: We added TRBC1 antibody to the standard T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell panel to assess T-cell clonality in 56 T-LGLLs and 34 reactive lymphocytoses. In addition, 20 chronic lymphoproliferative disorder of NK cells (CLPD-NKs) and 10 reactive NK-cell lymphocytoses were analyzed. RESULTS: Clonal T cells were detected in all available T-LGLLs by monotypic TRBC1 expression and clonal/equivocal T-cell receptor gene rearrangement (TCGR) studies, compared with only 27% of T-LGLLs by killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) restriction. Overall, 85% of T-LGLLs had a blood tumor burden greater than 500 cells/µL. Thirty-four reactive cases showed polytypic TRBC1 expression, except for 5 that revealed small T-cell clones of uncertain significance. All CLPD-NKs showed expected clonal KIR expression and negative TRBC1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of TRBC1 antibody to the routine flow cytometry assay could replace the TCGR molecular study and KIR flow cytometric analysis to assess clonality, simplifying the diagnosis of T-LGLL.

Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides: An overview, including the role of immunophenotyping.

This review discusses the definition and major categories of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides, and the role of immunophenotyping in their diagnosis. The following key points are raised: (a) Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides cells most often have a characteristic CD3+ CD4+ CD7- and/or CD26- immunophenotype. (b) This immunophenotype is not specific, but can assist in the distinction from non-neoplastic T cells and other subtypes of mature T-cell neoplasm. (c) However, small subsets of normal and reactive T-cells can have an overlapping immunophenotype, and can be distinguished by evaluating for additional changes in antigen expression.

International guidelines for the flow cytometric evaluation of peripheral blood for suspected Sézary syndrome or mycosis fungoides: Assay development/optimization, validation, and ongoing quality monitors.

Introducing a sensitive and specific peripheral blood flow cytometric assay for Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides (SS/MF) requires careful selection of assay design characteristics, and translation into a laboratory developed assay through development/optimization, validation, and continual quality monitoring. As outlined in a previous article in this series, the recommended design characteristics of this assay include at a minimum, evaluation of CD7, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD26, and CD45, analyzed simultaneously, requiring at least a 6 color flow cytometry system, with both quantitative and qualitative components. This article provides guidance from an international group of cytometry specialists in implementing an assay to those design specifications, outlining specific considerations, and best practices. Key points presented in detail are: (a) Pre-analytic components (reagents, specimen processing, and acquisition) must be optimized to: (i) identify and characterize an abnormal population of T-cells (qualitative component) and (ii) quantitate the abnormal population (semi/quasi-quantitative component). (b)Analytic components (instrument set-up/acquisition/analysis strategy and interpretation) must be optimized for the identification of SS/MF populations, which can vary widely in phenotype. Comparison with expert laboratories is strongly encouraged in order to establish competency. (c) Assay performance must be validated and documented through a validation plan and report, which covers both qualitative and semi/quasi-quantitative assay components (example template provided). (d) Ongoing assay-specific quality monitoring should be performed to ensure consistency.

Flow cytometric evaluation of peripheral blood for suspected Sézary syndrome or mycosis fungoides: International guidelines for assay characteristics.

A peripheral blood flow cytometric assay for Sézary syndrome (SS) or circulating mycosis fungoides (MF) cells must be able to reliably identify, characterize, and enumerate T-cells with an immunophenotype that differs from non-neoplastic T-cells. Although it is also important to distinguish SS and MF from other subtypes of T-cell neoplasm, this usually requires information in addition to the immunophenotype, such as clinical and morphologic features. This article outlines the approach recommended by an international group with experience and expertise in this area. The following key points are discussed: (a) At a minimum, a flow cytometric assay for SS and MF should include the following six antibodies: CD3, CD4, CD7, CD8, CD26, and CD45. (b) An analysis template must reliably detect abnormal T-cells, even when they lack staining for CD3 or CD45, or demonstrate a phenotype that is not characteristic of normal T-cells. (c) Gating strategies to identify abnormal T-cells should be based on the identification of subsets with distinctly homogenous immunophenotypic properties that are different from those expected for normal T-cells. (d) The blood concentration of abnormal cells, based on any immunophenotypic abnormalities indicative of MF or SS, should be calculated by either direct enumeration or a dual-platform method, and reported.