Clonal evolution is a key feature of cancer progression and relapse. We investigated this phenomenon by developing a pipeline that estimates the fraction of cancer cells harboring each somatic mutation within a tumor through integration of whole-exome sequence (WES) and local copy number data (Landau et al., Cell 2013, in press). By applying this analysis approach to 149 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cases, we discovered earlier and later cancer drivers, uncovered patterns of clonal evolution in CLL and linked the presence of subclones harboring driver mutations with adverse clinical outcome. We now propose to more deeply explore the hypothesis that subclonal mutations impact disease biology and clinical outcome. We propose to directly characterize individual evolving cells within subpopulations by using a microfluidics-based platform that integrates detection of mutations and quantitation of mRNA expression at the single cell level (Aim 1). Because the high level of clonal heterogeneity in CLL may be fueled by clonal diversity within earlier B cell lineage cells, we propose to characterize marrow B cell precursors of CLL patients through targeted deep sequencing of patient leukemia specific mutations and integrated analysis of mutation profiling with mRNA expression at the single cell level (Aim 2). Finally, to define if subclonal mutations are predictive of clinical outcome, we will systematically identify clonal and subclonal mutations in serial samples prospectively collected from 300 subjects enrolled on a landmark phase III clinical trial of frontline fludarabine-based chemotherapy and characterize the dynamic changes in the clonal landscape within individual cases. These analyses will define the impact of fludarabine on subclonal structure in CLL. Conversely, we will perform associations between number, size and composition of subclonal mutations and clinical characteristics to determine the impact of mutations present in subclonal populations on clinical outcome (Aim 3). Through these studies, we will establish a framework for understanding the stepwise transformation of B cells, and will elucidate the role of the dynamic evolutionary landscape of CLL on the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of CLL.

Public Health Relevance

Our recent studies have demonstrated that blood cancers such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are composed of different subpopulations of cells, each of which have the potential to take over the entire leukemia population over time. We seek to better understand the characteristics of these subpopulations at the level of genes and mutations. In doing so, we hope to better understand how CLL develops, and to improve our ability to predict outcome to treatment as well as devise novel therapies for the treatment of this largely incurable leukemia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA182461-02
Application #
8787089
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Hematology Study Section (MCH)
Program Officer
Mccarthy, Susan A
Project Start
2013-12-19
Project End
2018-11-30
Budget Start
2014-12-01
Budget End
2015-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
076580745
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Wang, Lili; Livak, Kenneth J; Wu, Catherine J (2018) High-dimension single-cell analysis applied to cancer. Mol Aspects Med 59:70-84
Edelmann, J; Tausch, E; Landau, D A et al. (2017) Frequent evolution of copy number alterations in CLL following first-line treatment with FC(R) is enriched with TP53 alterations: results from the CLL8 trial. Leukemia 31:734-738
Compagno, Mara; Wang, Qi; Pighi, Chiara et al. (2017) Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase ? blockade increases genomic instability in B cells. Nature 542:489-493
Kipps, Thomas J; Stevenson, Freda K; Wu, Catherine J et al. (2017) Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Nat Rev Dis Primers 3:16096
Purroy, Noelia; Wu, Catherine J (2017) Coevolution of Leukemia and Host Immune Cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 7:
Tiao, G; Improgo, M R; Kasar, S et al. (2017) Rare germline variants in ATM are associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia 31:2244-2247
Lazarian, Gregory; Guièze, Romain; Wu, Catherine J (2017) Clinical Implications of Novel Genomic Discoveries in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. J Clin Oncol 35:984-993
Wang, Lili; Fan, Jean; Francis, Joshua M et al. (2017) Integrated single-cell genetic and transcriptional analysis suggests novel drivers of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Genome Res 27:1300-1311
Wang, Lili; Brooks, Angela N; Fan, Jean et al. (2016) Transcriptomic Characterization of SF3B1 Mutation Reveals Its Pleiotropic Effects in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Cancer Cell 30:750-763
McGranahan, Nicholas; Furness, Andrew J S; Rosenthal, Rachel et al. (2016) Clonal neoantigens elicit T cell immunoreactivity and sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade. Science 351:1463-9

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