Mutation analysis links angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma to clonal hematopoiesis and smoking.

TitleMutation analysis links angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma to clonal hematopoiesis and smoking.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsCheng S, Zhang W, Inghirami G, Tam W
JournalElife
Volume10
Date Published2021 09 29
ISSN2050-084X
Abstract

Background: Although advance has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of mature T-cell neoplasms, the initiation and progression of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), remain poorly understood. A subset of AITL/PTCL-NOS patients develop concomitant hematologic neoplasms (CHN), and a biomarker to predict this risk is lacking.

Methods: We generated and analyzed the mutation profiles through 537-gene targeted sequencing of the primary tumors and matched bone marrow/peripheral blood samples in 25 patients with AITL and two with PTCL-NOS.

Results: Clonal hematopoiesis (CH)-associated genomic alterations, found in 70.4% of the AITL/PTCL-NOS patients, were shared among CH and T-cell lymphoma, as well as concomitant myeloid neoplasms or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that developed before or after AITL. Aberrant AID/APOBEC activity-associated and tobacco smoking-associated mutational signatures were respectively enriched in the early CH-associated mutations and late non-CH-associated mutations during AITL/PTCL-NOS development. Moreover, analysis showed that the presence of CH harboring ≥2 pathogenic TET2 variants with ≥15% of allele burden conferred higher risk for CHN (p=0.0006, hazard ratio = 14.01, positive predictive value = 88.9%, negative predictive value = 92.1%).

Conclusions: We provided genetic evidence that AITL/PTCL-NOS, CH, and CHN can frequently arise from common mutated hematopoietic precursor clones. Our data also suggests smoking exposure as a potential risk factor for AITL/PTCL-NOS progression. These findings provide insights into the cell origin and etiology of AITL and PTCL-NOS and provide a novel stratification biomarker for CHN risk in AITL patients.

Funding: R01 grant (CA194547) from the National Cancer Institute to WT.

DOI10.7554/eLife.66395
Alternate JournalElife
PubMed ID34581268
PubMed Central IDPMC8480981
Grant ListR01 CA194547 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
Related Faculty: 
Giorgio Inghirami, M.D.

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