PCR-Fluo-ASXL1-FA: A fast, sensitive and inexpensive complementary method to detect ASXL1 mutations in haematological malignancies.

INTRODUCTION: The additional sex combs like 1 (ASXL1) gene is frequently mutated in a number of haematological neoplasms. The c.1934dupG, known to be the most common alteration in ASXL1, is associated with poor clinical outcome. A systematic determination of ASXL1 mutational status in myeloid malignancies is therefore necessary for prognostic stratification. METHODS: Because direct sequencing is not sensitive and next-generation sequencing (NGS) is time-consuming, expensive and sometimes does not allow the detection of the c.1934dupG, we have developed a fragment analysis assay, complementary to NGS, that allows the detection of c.1934dupG mutation in addition to other nearby insertions/deletions of ASXL1 located close to it. We called this assay the "PCR-Fluo-ASXL1-FA." RESULTS: First, we evaluated the efficiency of our approach compared to NGS and Sanger. We showed that "PCR-Fluo-ASXL1-FA" could detect all insertional mutations of ASXL1 located on its area, with a high sensitivity (1.5%). Then, we have illustrated the interest of this technique by three concrete cases. DISCUSSION: In summary, we have established a fragment analysis approach, which can detect most ASXL1 mutations, in particular the c.1934dupG, in a sensitive, fast and inexpensive manner. We therefore recommend the synchronous use of this method with NGS, to ensure complete detection of all clinically relevant ASXL1 mutations in patients suffering with myeloid neoplasms.

High sensitivity of the Hematoflow™ solution for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia screening.

BACKGROUND: Accumulation of classical monocytes CD14++ CD16- (also called MO1) ≥ 94% can accurately distinguish chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) from reactive monocytosis. The HematoFlow™ solution, able to quantify CD16 negative monocytes, could be a useful tool to manage monocytosis which remains a common issue in routine laboratories. METHODS: Classical monocytes were quantified from 153 whole blood samples collected on EDTA using both flow cytometry methods, either MO1 percentage determination by the multiparameter assay previously published and regarded here as the reference method, or CD16 negative monocyte percentage determination by the means of HematoFlow™. RESULTS: Both methods of classical monocyte percentage determination were highly and significantly correlated (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001). The HematoFlow™ solution leant toward an overestimation of the genuine classical monocyte percentages obtained by the reference method. Percentages of CD16 negative monocytes provided by HematoFlow were higher than 94% for all the 73 patients displaying classical monocytes MO1 found ≥94% by the reference method, indicating a sensitivity of 100%. Furthermore, the calculation of CD16 negative monocyte percentage can be easily computerized and integrated to the middleware. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a new application of the Hematoflow™ solution that can be used as a flag system for monocytosis management and CMML detection. © 2017 International Clinical Cytometry Society.