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. 2021 Nov 12;13(22):5658. doi: 10.3390/cancers13225658

Table 1.

Genetic subgroups as indication criteria for small-molecule targeted agents and guide for patient stratification in pediatric acute leukemia.

Genetic Subgroup Possible Small-Molecule Targeted Agent or Risk Prediction Refs
ALL
Ph+ (BCR-ABL1) TKI, Aurora kinase (alisertib) [100]
TCF3-PBX1 PI3Ki (idelalisib), considerable response to chemotherapy [101]
TCF3-HLF therapy-resistant disease, BCL2i (venetoclax) [102]
KMT2A rearrangement FLT3i (quizartinib), DOT1L-i (pinometostat), proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib), HDACi ± DNMTi
aHSCT when poor response to induction is detected
[103]
ETV6-RUNX1, ETV6-RUNX1-like, DUX4
rearrangement (often coincide with ERGdel)
Excellent prognosis, reduced intensity treatment
may be considered
[57]
MEF2D rearrangement HDACi (panabinostat), proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib) [96]
ZNF384 rearrangement FLT3i (sunitinib) [104]
NT5C2 alteration Anticipate thiopurine resistance, often associated with relapse [105]
CREBBP alteration Anticipate corticosteroid resistance [106]
Hypodiploid BCL2i (venetoclax), aHSCT [107]
High hyperdiploid Low-risk disease [13]
iAMP21 High-risk disease [108]
NOTCH1 + PSEN1i (γ-secretase complex inhibition), [109]
IKZF1 plus in the presence of IKZF1 alteration, FAKi potentiates other drugs’ antitumor effect
High-risk disease (even with low MRD values)
[110]
MYC rearrangement Resistant disease course [111]
NUP214-ABL1 TKI [112]
oncogene activation (eg. TAL1, LYL1, LMO1, TLX1, TLX3) by translocation with TCR genes Varying, but substantial prognostic effect [113]
CDKN2A/CDKN2B deletions CDK4/CDK6i (palbociclib), [114]
KMT2A-ENL Despite KMT2A rearrangement, the prognosis is not poor in T-cell, ALL and aHSCT is generally avoidable [115]
Ph-like precursor B-cell ALL [116,117]
ABL class (ABL1, ABL2, CSF1R, PDGFRA, PDGFRB) Dasatinib
CRLF2 class (IGH-CRLF2, P2RY8-CRLF2, CRLF2mut) USP9Xi, HDACi (givinostat)
JAK2/EPOR class (JAK2, EPOR, PAX5) JAKi (ruxolitinib)
Ras/MAPK class (NRAS, KRAS, PTPN11, NF1) MEKi (trametinib)
Rare kinase fusions (NTRK3, FGFR1, PTK2B, TYK2, DGKH, LYN) NTRKi (larotrectinib, NTRK3), ALKi/ROS1i (crizotinib, NTRK3), ponatinib (FGFR1), FAKi (PTK2B), TYK2i (TYK2)
IKZF1 alteration in Ph-like cases Retinoid use potentiates TKIs’ effect
AML
KMT2A rearrangement DOT1Li (pinometostat) [118]
NUP98 rearrangement CDK6i (palbociclib), BCL2i (navitoclax)
High-risk disease (need for aHSCT)
[119,120]
CBF-AML (inv(16): CBFB-MYH11, t(8;21): RUNX1-RUNX1T1) KITi (dasatinib)
Low-risk disease
[121]
FLT3 activating mutations FLT3i (midostaurin, crenolanib, gilteritinib, lestaurtinib,
quizartinib, sorafenib)
[15]
  • (a)

    FLT3-ITD + NPM1mut (usually without DNMT3Amut in children)

The coincidence anticipates a favorable prognosis, outcomes are better than in FLT3-ITDneg cases
  • (b)

    FLT3-ITD + WT1mut or NUP98- NSD1

Usually unsuccessful induction, dismal prognosis, need for aHSCT
IDH1/IDH2 mutations (rare in children) IDHi (enasidenib, ivosidenib) [122]
HIF1A, BRE and CLEC7A expression levels Drug resistance toward cytarabine, daunorubicin, and/or etoposide [123]

Abbreviations: ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia; AML, acute myeloid leukemia; Ph, Philadelphia; TKI, tyrosine kinase inhibitor; aHSCT, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; MRD, minimal residual disease; ITD, internal tandem duplication.