Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: a Constellation of Molecular Events Around a Single PML-RARA Fusion Gene
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cancers Review Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: A Constellation of Molecular Events around a Single PML-RARA Fusion Gene 1, 2,3, 1 2,3 Alessandro Liquori y , Mariam Ibañez y, Claudia Sargas , Miguel Ángel Sanz , Eva Barragán 2,3 and José Cervera 2,3,* 1 Accredited Research Group in Hematology and Hemotherapy, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; [email protected] (A.L.); [email protected] (C.S.) 2 Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; [email protected] (M.I.); [email protected] (M.Á.S.); [email protected] (E.B.) 3 Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain * Correspondence: [email protected] A.L. and M.I. contributed equally to this work. y Received: 30 January 2020; Accepted: 5 March 2020; Published: 8 March 2020 Abstract: Although acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is one of the most characterized forms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of this disease are still a matter of study. APL is defined by the PML-RARA rearrangement as a consequence of the translocation t(15;17)(q24;q21). However, this abnormality alone is not able to trigger the whole leukemic phenotype and secondary cooperating events might contribute to APL pathogenesis. Additional somatic mutations are known to occur recurrently in several genes, such as FLT3, WT1, NRAS and KRAS, whereas mutations in other common AML genes are rarely detected, resulting in a different molecular profile compared to other AML subtypes. How this mutational spectrum, including point mutations in the PML-RARA fusion gene, could contribute to the 10%–15% of relapsed or resistant APL patients is still unknown. Moreover, due to the uncertain impact of additional mutations on prognosis, the identification of the APL-specific genetic lesion is still the only method recommended in the routine evaluation/screening at diagnosis and for minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment. However, the gene expression profile of genes, such as ID1, BAALC, ERG, and KMT2E, once combined with the molecular events, might improve future prognostic models, allowing us to predict clinical outcomes and to categorize APL patients in different risk subsets, as recently reported. In this review, we will focus on the molecular characterization of APL patients at diagnosis, relapse and resistance, in both children and adults. We will also describe different standardized molecular approaches to study MRD, including those recently developed. Finally, we will discuss how novel molecular findings can improve the management of this disease. Keywords: acute promyelocytic leukemia; APL; NGS; minimal residual disease; MRD; PML-RARA; isoform; relapse; splicing 1. Introduction Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a biologically and clinically distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with unique molecular pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and treatment that is cytogenetically characterized by a balanced translocation t(15;17)(q24;q21) [1–3]. This translocation involves the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene on chromosome 17 and the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene on chromosome 15 that results in a PML-RARA fusion gene [4–7]. This fusion gene has been demonstrated to be responsible for cellular transformation, and confers a Cancers 2020, 12, 624; doi:10.3390/cancers12030624 www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers Cancers 2020, 12, 624 2 of 22 particular sensitivity to treatment with differentiating agents such as all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) plus chemotherapyCancers 2020, 12, x or ATRA plus arsenic-trioxide (ATO), converting this once fatal leukemia2 of 21 into a highly curable disease both for pediatric and adult patients (cure rates of approximately 90%) [8–11]. The presenta particular review sensitivity discusses to treatment some of with the differentiat most recenting findings agents such concerning as all-trans-retinoic the molecular acid (ATRA) genetics of plus chemotherapy or ATRA plus arsenic-trioxide (ATO), converting this once fatal leukemia into a APL, beyond the PML-RARA fusion gene and its variants, both at diagnosis and relapse; and includes highly curable disease both for pediatric and adult patients (cure rates of approximately 90%) [8–11]. the main strategies for minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring in patients. The present review discusses some of the most recent findings concerning the molecular genetics of APL, beyond the PML-RARA fusion gene and its variants, both at diagnosis and relapse; and includes 2. Pathophysiology of APL the main strategies for minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring in patients. The PML-RARA fusion gene is the most critical event involved in the pathogenesis of APL. This derives2. Pathophysiology from a cytogenetic of APL translocation leading to the rearrangement of PML and RARA genes [4–7]. PMLTheis PML-RARA located in fusion chromosome gene is the band most critical 15q24, event and involved contains in ninethe pathogenesis exons producing of APL. This several alternativederives spliced from a cytogenetic transcripts translocation [12]. All the leading PML to isoforms the rearrangement share the N-terminalof PML and RARA region, genes harboring [4–7]. the RING-B-Box-Coiled-coilPML is located /tripartitein chromosome motif (RBCCband 15q24,/TRIM) an domaind contains (encoded nine exons by exons producing 1 to 3); several but di ffer eitheralternative in the central spliced (exons transcripts 4, 5 and [12]. 6) orAll in the the PML C-terminal isoforms regions,share the due N-terminal to alternative region, splicing harboring (Figure the 1). RING-B-Box-Coiled-coil/tripartite motif (RBCC/TRIM) domain (encoded by exons 1 to 3); but differ PML I, the longest one, which is distributed both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm, is the only isoform either in the central (exons 4, 5 and 6) or in the C-terminal regions, due to alternative splicing (Figure containing a nuclear export signal (NES, exon 9) domain [12,13]. PML is mainly involved in tumor 1). PML I, the longest one, which is distributed both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm, is the only suppressionisoform containing and genomic a nuclear instability export [ 12signal,14– (NES,16], through exon 9) domain it has constitutive [12,13]. PML oris mainly transient involved interactions in with moretumor than suppression 170 proteins and [genomic17]. Most instability of these interactions[12,14–16], through are mediated it has eitherconstitutive by the or RBCC transient domain, whichinteractions allows PML with multimerization more than 170 proteins andorganization [17]. Most of these in subnuclear interactions structure, are mediated defined either asby nuclearthe bodiesRBCC (NBs) domain, [14,18 which,19]; or allows by other PML multimerization PML isoform-specific and organization domains in [ 20subnuclear–22]. Therefore, structure, throughdefined the creationas nuclear of different bodies binding (NBs) interfaces,[14,18,19]; or PML by canother be PML involved isoform-specific in several functionaldomains [20–22]. pathways, Therefore, including p53-dependentthrough the and creation -independent of different apoptosis binding interf andaces, senescence PML can [23 be–26 involved], stem cellin several self-renewal functional [16 ,27], epigeneticpathways, regulation including and p53-dependent transcription an ofd hematopoietic -independent apoptosis stem cells and [20 senescence,21,28,29]. [23–26], stem cell self-renewal [16,27], epigenetic regulation and transcription of hematopoietic stem cells [20,21,28,29]. FigureFigure 1. Structure 1. Structure of the of acute the promyelocyticacute promyelocytic leukemia leuk (APL)emia (APL) primary primary event: event: promyelocytic promyelocytic leukemia leukemia (PML) and retinoic acid receptor-α (RARA) proteins and the corresponding PML–RARA (PML) and retinoic acid receptor-α (RARA) proteins and the corresponding PML–RARA fusion protein fusion protein with the breakpoint regions (marked in red) and hotspot mutations (in the box at the with the breakpoint regions (marked in red) and hotspot mutations (in the box at the bottom of the bottom of the figure; in black are presented commonly mutated positions, and in grey rarer changes). figure;In inPML: black RING are finger presented (R), B commonlyboxes (B1 and mutated B2), coiled-coil positions, domain and (CC), in grey nuclear rarer localization changes). signal In PML: RING(NLS), finger SUMO-interacting (R), B boxes (B1 motif and (SIM), B2), and coiled-coil nuclear ex domainport signal (CC), (NES). nuclear In RARA: localization N-terminal signal domain (NLS), SUMO-interacting(A, B), including motif the (SIM),activation and function nuclear doma exportin 1 signal (AF-1), (NES). DNA-binding In RARA: domain N-terminal (C), hormone- domain (A, B), includingbinding domain the activation (E) and other function regulatory domain domains 1 (AF-1), (D and DNA-binding F). domain (C), hormone-binding domain (E) and other regulatory domains (D and F). Cancers 2020, 12, 624 3 of 22 RARA is located in chromosome band 17q21, and comprises 10 exons encoding two isoforms, RARA1 and RARA2. Due to alternative promoter and exon usage, and alternative splicing, RARA isoforms differ from one another in the N-terminal Activation Function 1 (AF-1) domain (Figure1)[ 30]. The RARA protein is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily with high homology (90%) with RARB and RARG. This serves as a nuclear transcription factor when it is activated