Project description:The TCF3-HLF translocation is a very rare rearrangement in ALL that is associated with an extremely poor prognosis. The TCF3-HLF fusion gene in the described case resulted in the fusion of the homeobox-related gene of TCF3 to the leucine zipper domain of HLF. The TCF3-HLF fusion gene product acts as a transcriptional factor leading to the dedifferentiation of mature B lymphocytes into an immature state (lymphoid stem cells). This process initiates the formation of pre-leukaemic cells. Due to the rarity of this chromosomal aberration, only a few cases have been described in the literature. The advantage of this work is the presentation of an interesting case of clonal evolution of cancer cells and the cumulative implications (diagnostic and prognostic) of the patient’s genetic alterations.
Project description:Oncogenic chimeric transcription factors are central drivers in cancer. To understand how the TCF3-HLF fusion protein rewires the transcriptional landscape in t(17;19) positive leukemia, functional genetic and proteomic experiments were conducted. In this dataset, the protein-protein interactions of the endogenous TCF3-HLF complex were characterized by AP-MS.
Project description:Oncogenic fusion transcription factors (TFs) frequently drive hematopoietic malignancies by altering gene expression in key developmental programs. TCF3::HLF is a fusion TF that characterizes a rare, treatment-resistant subtype of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (t(17;19) TCF3::HLF-positive B-ALL). Despite its clinical significance, the mechanisms by which TCF3::HLF induces leukemia are unclear. We used HiChIP mapping and genetic interference to analyze TCF3::HLF at the 3D-genome level, revealing enhancer-promoter interactions that control gene activation or repression. Notably, TCF3::HLF directly regulates MEF2C expression through its enhancer, as interference disrupted MEF2C transcription and inhibited leukemia propagation. This disruption also diminished embryonal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene signatures and restored mature HSC and B-lymphoid markers. These findings highlight MEF2C as a critical component of the transcriptional network reprogrammed by TCF3::HLF. Our study provides insight into how TCF3::HLF rewires the 3D genome to drive leukemia and serves as a resource for further exploration of the TCF3::HLF regulome.
Project description:Oncogenic fusion transcription factors (TFs) frequently drive hematopoietic malignancies by altering gene expression in key developmental programs. TCF3::HLF is a fusion TF that characterizes a rare, treatment-resistant subtype of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (t(17;19) TCF3::HLF-positive B-ALL). Despite its clinical significance, the mechanisms by which TCF3::HLF induces leukemia are unclear. We used HiChIP mapping and genetic interference to analyze TCF3::HLF at the 3D-genome level, revealing enhancer-promoter interactions that control gene activation or repression. Notably, TCF3::HLF directly regulates MEF2C expression through its enhancer, as interference disrupted MEF2C transcription and inhibited leukemia propagation. This disruption also diminished embryonal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene signatures and restored mature HSC and B-lymphoid markers. These findings highlight MEF2C as a critical component of the transcriptional network reprogrammed by TCF3::HLF. Our study provides insight into how TCF3::HLF rewires the 3D genome to drive leukemia and serves as a resource for further exploration of the TCF3::HLF regulome.
Project description:Oncogenic fusion transcription factors (TFs) frequently drive hematopoietic malignancies by altering gene expression in key developmental programs. TCF3::HLF is a fusion TF that characterizes a rare, treatment-resistant subtype of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (t(17;19) TCF3::HLF-positive B-ALL). Despite its clinical significance, the mechanisms by which TCF3::HLF induces leukemia are unclear. We used HiChIP mapping and genetic interference to analyze TCF3::HLF at the 3D-genome level, revealing enhancer-promoter interactions that control gene activation or repression. Notably, TCF3::HLF directly regulates MEF2C expression through its enhancer, as interference disrupted MEF2C transcription and inhibited leukemia propagation. This disruption also diminished embryonal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene signatures and restored mature HSC and B-lymphoid markers. These findings highlight MEF2C as a critical component of the transcriptional network reprogrammed by TCF3::HLF. Our study provides insight into how TCF3::HLF rewires the 3D genome to drive leukemia and serves as a resource for further exploration of the TCF3::HLF regulome.
Project description:Oncogenic fusion transcription factors (TFs) frequently drive hematopoietic malignancies by altering gene expression in key developmental programs. TCF3::HLF is a fusion TF that characterizes a rare, treatment-resistant subtype of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (t(17;19) TCF3::HLF-positive B-ALL). Despite its clinical significance, the mechanisms by which TCF3::HLF induces leukemia are unclear. We used HiChIP mapping and genetic interference to analyze TCF3::HLF at the 3D-genome level, revealing enhancer-promoter interactions that control gene activation or repression. Notably, TCF3::HLF directly regulates MEF2C expression through its enhancer, as interference disrupted MEF2C transcription and inhibited leukemia propagation. This disruption also diminished embryonal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene signatures and restored mature HSC and B-lymphoid markers. These findings highlight MEF2C as a critical component of the transcriptional network reprogrammed by TCF3::HLF. Our study provides insight into how TCF3::HLF rewires the 3D genome to drive leukemia and serves as a resource for further exploration of the TCF3::HLF regulome.
Project description:Despite improved 5-year overall survival rates in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) due to therapy escalation, effective treatments for relapsed and treatment-resistant disease, especially in specific subtypes like those with TCF3 (formerly E2A) fusions, remain scarce. TCF3, a key regulator of B-cell development, is implicated in various chromosomal translocations linked to lymphoid malignancies, such as TCF3::PBX1 fusion (5% of pediatric B-ALL) and TCF3::HLF fusion (~0.5% of pediatric B-ALL). Current omics research predominantly relies on transcriptomics, but it's increasingly recognized that this may not adequately reflect protein expression, the main targets of drugs and functional entities in biological processes. This study comprehensively analyzed proteomic landscapes of TCF3::HLF+ (n=6) and TCF3::PBX1+ (n=5) B-ALL using primary patient-derived xenografts (PDX), liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and data-dependent acquisition.
Project description:The TCF3::HLF fusion protein defines a subtype of incurable B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Here, we identified self-reinforcing IL-1b networks in TCF3::HLF B-ALL cells using a newly-established mouse model that fully recapitulates human TCF3::HLF B-ALL, including osteolysis. We found significant upregulation of several inflammatory cytokines, including IL1B, IL6 and IFNG in the B-ALL mice. Deletion of IL1B or IL1R1 strongly inhibited the growth of the human TCF3::HLF B-ALL cells, reduced the expression of RANKL and ameliorated the destruction of bone in the transplanted mice. Genetic and epigenetic analyses identified a previously unknown regulatory region of the IL1B gene locus, where TCF3::HLF directly binds. Importantly, single cell RNA-seq profiling of TCF3::HLF B-ALL patients revealed a dramatic upregulation of IL1B at relapse compared to the time of diagnosis. These findings suggest a critical role of TCF3::HLF-IL-1b axis for the progression of TCF3::HLF B-ALL.
Project description:The TCF3::HLF fusion protein defines a subtype of incurable B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Here, we identified self-reinforcing IL-1b networks in TCF3::HLF B-ALL cells using a newly-established mouse model that fully recapitulates human TCF3::HLF B-ALL, including osteolysis. We found significant upregulation of several inflammatory cytokines, including IL1B, IL6 and IFNG in the B-ALL mice. Deletion of IL1B or IL1R1 strongly inhibited the growth of the human TCF3::HLF B-ALL cells, reduced the expression of RANKL and ameliorated the destruction of bone in the transplanted mice. Genetic and epigenetic analyses identified a previously unknown regulatory region of the IL1B gene locus, where TCF3::HLF directly binds. Importantly, single cell RNA-seq profiling of TCF3::HLF B-ALL patients revealed a dramatic upregulation of IL1B at relapse compared to the time of diagnosis. These findings suggest a critical role of TCF3::HLF-IL-1b axis for the progression of TCF3::HLF B-ALL.
Project description:BackgroundThe use of high-throughput analytical techniques has enabled the description of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) subtypes. The TCF3-HLF translocation is a very rare rearrangement in ALL that is associated with an extremely poor prognosis. The TCF3-HLF fusion gene in the described case resulted in the fusion of the homeobox-related gene of TCF3 to the leucine zipper domain of HLF. The TCF3-HLF fusion gene product acts as a transcriptional factor leading to the dedifferentiation of mature B lymphocytes into an immature state (lymphoid stem cells). This process initiates the formation of pre-leukaemic cells. Due to the rarity of this chromosomal aberration, only a few cases have been described in the literature. The advantage of this work is the presentation of an interesting case of clonal evolution of cancer cells and the cumulative implications (diagnostic and prognostic) of the patient's genetic alterations.Case presentationThis work presents a patient with diagnosed with TCF3-HLF-positive ALL. Moreover, the additional genetic alterations, which play a key role in the pathogenesis of ALL, were detected in this patient: deletion of a fragment from the long arm of chromosome 13 (13q12.2-q21.1) containing the RB1 gene, intragenic deletions within the PAX5 gene and NOTCH1 intragenic duplication.ConclusionsA patient with coexistence of chromosomal alterations and the TCF3-HLF fusion has not yet been described. Identifying all these chromosomal aberrations at the time of diagnosis could be sufficient to determine the cumulative effects of the described deletions on the activity of other oncogenes or tumour suppressors, as well as on the clinical course of the disease. On the other hand, complex changes in the patient's karyotype and clonal evolution of cancer cells call into question the effectiveness of experimental therapy.