LAUSR

The strongest predictors of outcome in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) are minimal residual disease (MRD) and specific molecular abnormalities. One unfavorable prognostic factor is the presence of IKZF1 gene aberrations, particularly when co-occurring with high MRD level at the end of induction treatment. The present study determines the predictive value of a recently-defined IKZF1-plus (IKZF1plus ) microdeletion profile in 373 children with BCP-ALL treated according to the ALL-IC BFM 2009 protocol. IKZF1-wild type (IKZF1wt ) patients demonstrated lower leukemic burden parameters than those carrying IKZF1 deletion (IKZF1del [n=26, 7.0%]) or IKZF1plus pattern (n=34, 9.1%): i) median blast percentage at diagnosis (78.0% vs. 86.9% vs. 86.0%; p=0.021); ii) median MRD level at day 15 of induction protocol (0.3% vs. 2.1% vs. 0.8%; p=0.011); iii) poor steroid response (7.6% vs. 26.5% vs. 12.5%; p=0.010). MRD level at day 33 (MRD33) exceeding 10-4 was more frequently observed in both the IKZF1del and IKZF1plus subgroups than in IKZF1wt patients (n=9 [36.0%] vs. n=13 [41.9%] vs. n=70 [24.0%], p=0.051). IKZF1plus individuals showed a tendency for a lower MRD reduction between day 15 and 33 compared to IKZF1del patients (p=0.124). IKZF1del and IKZF1plus patients showed decreased relapse-free survival (HR [95%CI] for IKZF1wt as reference=2.72 [1.21-6.11] and 2.00 [0.87-4.49], respectively, p=0.023). Both genetic markers including IKZF1del and IKZF1plus microdeletion profile provide additional predictive value of treatment outcome in childhood BCP-ALL and may contribute to more efficient patient stratification; the same is true in MRD guided protocols, which are based on flow cytometric measurements on day 15 of induction protocol. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.