3q26 rearrangements (MECOM) in myeloid malignancies

2003-02-01   Nicole Dastugue , Frank Speleman , Bruce Poppe 

1.Centre for Medical Genetics, 1K5, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Clinics and Pathology

Disease

In myeloid malignancies (acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) as well as other myeloproliferative disorders), involvement of 3q26 in balanced rearrangements is highly suggestive of EVI1 and/or MDS1/EVI1 rearrangement. As a consequence, balanced aberrations involving 3q26 are mainly detected in myeloid malignancies.

Epidemiology

3q26 rearrangements have been described in up to 5% of unselected patients with myeloid malignancies.

Clinics

Often associated with young age at diagnosis, trilineage dysplasia, dysmegakaryopoiesis and prior treatment with alkylating agents.

Evolution

In CML, emergence of an additional Ph+ clone with a 3q26 rearrangement can be indicative of a pending disease transformation.

Prognosis

Generally 3q26 rearrangements are associated with adverse prognosis. This adverse prognosis probably correlates to the highly increased EVI1 expression, detectable in the vast majority of these patients. Whether 3q26 rearrangements, which are not associated with ectopic EVI1 expression share the same prognostic features, however, has not been addressed.

Cytogenetics

Cytogenetics morphological

Although the frequently occurring balanced 3q26 rearrangements can be readily identified by G-, Q-, or R-banding, the distal localisation makes it a good candidate for involvement in cryptic aberrations. Rearrangements in which EVI1 and or MDS1/EVI1 involvement have been well established include: CYTOGENETICS_MORPHOL
  • t(3;3)(q21;q26)
  • inv(3)(q21q26)
  • ins(3)(q26;q21q26)
  • t(3;12)(q26;p13)
  • t(3;21)(q26;q22)

    Recently we demonstrated EVI1 involvement in other recurrent rearrangements such as :

  • t(2;3)(p13-p23;q26)
  • t(3;6)(q26;q25).
  • t(3;13)(q26;q14)
  • t(3;17)(q26;q22)

    In addition, EVI1 is involved in more rare rearrangements such as

  • inv(3)(p12q26)
  • inv(3)(q23q26)
  • t(3;3)(p24;q26)
  • t(3;5)(q26;q34)
  • t(3;9)(q26;p23)
  • t(3;12)(q26;q21)
  • t(3;18)(q26;q11).

    One should be aware of the fact, however, that in the majority of patients demonstrating ectopic EVI1 expression, 3q26 rearrangements are generally not detectable cytogenetically. Whether in these patients cryptic aberrations cause EVI1 deregulation is currently under investigation.

  • Cytogenetics molecular

    Breakpoint heterogeneity, with breakpoints mapping 3¹ as well as 5¹, of EVI1 impeded a sensitive detection of EVI1 rearrangement using molecular cytogenetic techniques. Recently, however, we studied numerous 3q26 rearrangements using a 1.3Mb contig covering the EVI1 locus. We demonstrated sensitive and specific detection of EVI1 rearrangements using dual colour FISH using the following probe combinations: RP11-82C9 and RP11-694D5 for 5¹ rearrangements and RP11-82C9 and RP11-362K14 for 3¹ rearrangements.

    Additional anomalies

    3q26 rearrangements are frequently associated with monosomy 7 and complex chromosomal aberrations.

    Genes Involved and Proteins

    Gene name
    MECOM (Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 (EVI1) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome 1 (MDS1-EVI1)
    Location
    3q26.2
    Note
    EVI1 and MDS1 display intergenic splicing, creating a PR domain member, MDS1/EVI1. Analogously to other PR domain genes, such as RIZ, MDS1/EVI1 and EVI1 are hypothesised to display antagonistic properties. Currently, experimental data are limited and conflicting indicating that further experiments are needed to clarify the exact role of both evolutionary conserved transcripts.
    Dna rna description
    EVI1 spans approximately 50 kb and contains 12 exons, 10 of which are coding. Translation starts in exon 3.
    MDS1/EVI1 results from intergenic splicing from MDS1 and EVI1, the resulting transcript MDS1/EVI1, contains the 2 first MDS1 exons spliced in frame to EVI1 exon 2.
    The MDS1 gene spans approximately 230kb.
    The different transcripts encoded by the EVI1 locus.
    Protein description
    The EVI1 gene encodes a sequence specific Cys2/Hys2 type 145kDa zinc finger protein, containing two sets of seven and three zing fingers, respectively. Alternative splicing creates a 88 kDa isoform that lacks the nuclear localisation signal and two zinc fingers. MDS1/EVI1 encodes a PR domain family member. The PR domain is suggested to play an inhibiting role in tumorigenesis.

    Result of the Chromosomal Anomaly

    Note

    Ectopic expression of an intact or truncated EVI1 transcript has been reported as a result of 3q26 rearrangements. Generally, 3q26 breakpoints map 3 to EVI1 in the inv(3) while the t(3;3) breakpoints more frequently reside 5 to EVI1. In addition expression of GR6/EVI1 and RPN1/EVI1 chimeras have been described in the t(3;3). Alternatively, AML1/MDS1, AML1/MDS1/EVI1 and AML1/EVI1 fusion transcripts are produced by the t(3;21)(q26;q22), while ETV6/MDS1/EVI1 and ETV6/EVI1 fusions are related to the t(3;12)(q26;p13). The net effect of these rearrangements comprises an EVI1 gain of function: as a result of EVI1 ectopic expression or resulting from MDS1/EVI1 inactivation by disruption of its PR domain.

    Several hybrid genes resulting from 3q26 rearrangements have been characterised and cloned, including the AML1/MDS1/EVI1 from the t(3;21)(q26;q22) and the ETV6/MDS1/EVI1 in the t(3;12)(q26;p13) these rearrangements are discussed elsewhere in the Atlas.

    Bibliography

    Pubmed IDLast YearTitleAuthors
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    86436841996Intergenic splicing of MDS1 and EVI1 occurs in normal tissues as well as in myeloid leukemia and produces a new member of the PR domain family.Fears S et al
    92563451997The Evi1 proto-oncogene is required at midgestation for neural, heart, and paraxial mesenchyme development.Hoyt PR et al
    85859521996Molecular analysis of Evi1, a zinc finger oncogene involved in myeloid leukemia.Lopingco MC et al
    21060701990Identification, nuclear localization, and DNA-binding activity of the zinc finger protein encoded by the Evi-1 myeloid transforming gene.Matsugi T et al
    83138951994Generation of the AML1-EVI-1 fusion gene in the t(3;21)(q26;q22) causes blastic crisis in chronic myelocytic leukemia.Mitani K et al
    15703171992Activation of EVI1 gene expression in human acute myelogenous leukemias by translocations spanning 300-400 kilobases on chromosome band 3q26.Morishita K et al
    28270041988Identification of a common ecotropic viral integration site, Evi-1, in the DNA of AKXD murine myeloid tumors.Mucenski ML et al
    94478151997The EVI1 gene in myeloid leukemia.Nucifora G et al
    90448251997Fusion of ETV6 to MDS1/EVI1 as a result of t(3;12)(q26;p13) in myeloproliferative disorders.Peeters P et al
    93072711997Activation of a novel gene in 3q21 and identification of intergenic fusion transcripts with ecotropic viral insertion site I in leukemia.Pekarsky Y et al
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    90675731997The leukemia-associated gene MDS1/EVI1 is a new type of GATA-binding transactivator.Soderholm J et al
    79193811994Identification of a breakpoint cluster region 3' of the ribophorin I gene at 3q21 associated with the transcriptional activation of the EVI1 gene in acute myelogenous leukemias with inv(3)(q21q26).Suzukawa K et al
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    Summary

    Atlas Image

    Citation

    Nicole Dastugue ; Frank Speleman ; Bruce Poppe

    3q26 rearrangements (MECOM) in myeloid malignancies

    Atlas Genet Cytogenet Oncol Haematol. 2003-02-01

    Online version: http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/haematological/1125/3q26-rearrangements-(mecom)-in-myeloid-malignancies