Identification of fusion genes and characterization of transcriptome features in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2018 AI 6 Explanations View Original
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Plain-English Explanations
Page 1
T-ALL: A Leukemia of Immature T Cells With Distinct Challenges in Adults

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TL;DR: T-ALL is a complex leukemia with poor adult outcomes. This study performed comprehensive RNA sequencing on 130 patients to map its genetic landscape and find new treatment targets.
Pages 1-2
RNA Sequencing Reveals 36 Gene Fusions, Including 18 Never Seen Before

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TL;DR: RNA sequencing across 130 T-ALL patients revealed 36 gene fusions including 18 new ones, with distinct fusion landscapes between adult and pediatric patients.
Pages 2-3
ZBTB16-ABL1: A New Leukemia Driver Targetable by Existing Drugs

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Pages 3-4
Gene Mutations and Aberrant Transcripts: A Complex Genetic Landscape

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TL;DR: T-ALL carries mutations in NOTCH1 and many other genes; adults accumulate more mutations than children, and an unusual SLC17A9 RNA form predicts poor prognosis in TAL1-overexpressing adult cases.
Page 4
Three Molecular Subgroups With Distinct Biology

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Pages 4-5
From Genomic Map to Precision Therapy

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TL;DR: The genetic map produced by this study enables more precise T-ALL classification and identifies actionable targets -- including the newly discovered ZBTB16-ABL1 fusion that responds to already-approved drugs.
Citation: Open Access, 2018. Available at: PMC5777070.