Purpose

Notch pathway activation by mutations in either NOTCH1 and/or FBXW7 is one of the most common molecular events in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and, in pediatric disease, predicts for favorable outcome. Their prognostic significance in adult T-ALL is unclear. We sought to evaluate the outcome according to mutation status of patients with adult T-ALL treated on the United Kingdom Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia XII (UKALLXII)/Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) E2993 protocol.

Methods

NOTCH1 and FBXW7 were screened by a combination of denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and sequencing in 88 adult patients with T-ALL treated on the UKALLXII/ECOG E2993 protocol and compared with clinical characteristics and outcome.

Results

NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutations were common (60% and 18%, respectively) and were not associated with age or WBC count. NOTCH1 heterodimerization domain mutations were associated with FBXW7 mutations (P=. 02), and NOTCH1 proline, glutamic acid, serine, threonine (PEST) rich domain and FBXW7 mutations were mutually exclusive. There were an equal number of high-and standard-risk patients in the NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutated (MUT) groups. Patients wild type (WT) for both markers trended toward poorer event-free survival (EFS; MUT v WT, 51% v 27%, P=. 10; hazard ratio, 0.6). Analysis by each marker individually was not significantly predictive of outcome (NOTCH1 MUT v WT, EFS 49% v 34%, P=. 20; FBXW7 MUT v WT, EFS 53% v 41%, P. 72).

Conclusion

NOTCH1 and FBXW7 mutant-positive patients do not fare sufficiently well to warrant an individualized treatment approach in future studies.