Identification of two DNA methylation subtypes of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia with plasma and memory B cell features

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damien Roos-Weil ◽  
Brian Giacopelli ◽  
Marine Armand ◽  
Véronique Della Valle ◽  
Hussein Ghamlouch ◽  
...  

Epigenetic changes during B cell differentiation generates distinct DNA methylation signatures specific for B cell subsets, including memory B cells (MBCs) and plasma cells (PCs). Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a complex B cell malignancy uniquely comprised of a mixture of lymphocytic and plasmacytic phenotypes. Here we integrated genome-wide DNA methylation, transcriptome, mutation and other phenotypic features of tumor cells from 35 MYD88-mutated WM patients in relation to normal plasma and B cell subsets. We discovered that WM patients naturally segregate into two groups according to DNA methylation patterns, related to normal MBC and PC profiles, and reminiscent of other memory and plasma cell-derived malignancies. Concurrent analysis of DNA methylation changes in normal and WM development were used to capture tumor-specific events, highlighting a selective reprogramming of enhancer regions in MBC-like WM and repressed and heterochromatic regions in PC-like WM. MBC-like WM hypomethylation was enriched in motifs belonging to PU.1, TCF3 and OCT2 transcription factors and involved elevated MYD88/TLR pathway activity. PC-like WM displayed marked global hypomethylation and selective overexpression of histone genes. Finally, WM subtypes exhibited differential genetic, phenotypic and clinical features. MBC-like WM harbored significantly more clonal CXCR4 mutations (P=0.015), deletion 13q (P=0.006), splenomegaly (P=0.02) and thrombocytopenia (P=0.004), while PC-like WM harbored more deletion 6q (P=0.012), gain 6p (P=0.033), had increased frequencies of IGHV3 genes (P=0.002), CD38 surface expression (P=4.1e-5), and plasmacytic differentiation features (P=0.008). Together our findings illustrate a novel approach to subclassify WM patients using patterns of DNA methylation and reveal divergent molecular signatures among WM patients.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4399-4399
Author(s):  
Andrea Toma ◽  
Magali Le Garff-Tavernier ◽  
Martine Brissard ◽  
Patrick Bonnemye ◽  
Lucile Musset ◽  
...  

Abstract The immunophenotypic characterization of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is still unclear, despite being an essential tool in the diagnosis of hematological malignancies. We retrospectively reviewed the immunophenotypic profile of 63 cases of WM showing monoclonal IgM in the serum and morphological lymphoplasmacytic bone marrow infiltration, and of 26 cases of other chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders having monoclonal IgM in the serum (LPD-M), including marginal zone (n=16), mantle cell (n=8) and follicular (n=2) lymphomas. The median age at diagnosis was 64[46–92] years. Immunophenotypic analysis was performed by flow cytometry between January 1998 and July 2007, using four or six monoclonal antibody combinations. In WM and LPD-M groups, all patients showed a monoclonal tumoral B-cell population, detected and studied in blood (21 and 23 patients, respectively), blood and bone marrow (19 and 2 patients, respectively) or bone marrow samples (23 and 1 patient, respectively). Patients with a Matutes score > 3 were excluded. Neoplastic cells, in all cases, expressed a monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain (kappa for 70% WM and 73% LPD-M, lambda for 30% WM and 27% LPD-M). The intensity of expression of the monoclonal light chain was particularly heterogeneous in both groups: high, normal or low expression in 43%, 27% or 30% of WM, and in 52%, 33% or 15% of LPD-M, respectively. Pan-B antigens (CD20, CD19, CD79b) were positive for at least 97% of patients. The results obtained with other antigens in WM compared to LPD-M were: CD10 = 10 versus 7%, CD23 = 33 versus 56%, CD5 = 14 versus 26%, FMC7 = 76 versus 89%, CD38 = 56 versus 41%, CD25 = 86 versus 84%, CD43 = 12 versus 16%, and CD11c = 10 versus 36%. The intensity of expression of these antigens was heterogeneous in both groups. Among the antigens only tested in the WM group, CD1c and CD27 were positive for 70% of patients, IgM and IgD for 95% of patients, and CD103 as well as CD117 were negative in all cases. Considering all (blood and/or bone marrow) WM samples, plasma cells (CD38/CD138 positive cells) were found at low levels (less than 2.5% of B-cells) for 46% of WM. Comparing blood versus bone marrow WM samples, no differences were found for all previous antigens except the higher frequency of low counts of plasma cells in bone marrow (observed in 71% of WM) versus blood samples (28% of WM). Among the 10 WM patients tested for ZAP-70 expression, nine were negative and one showed a low intensity expression. In conclusion, our results show that the immunophenotypic analysis usually performed with standard antigens in WM overlaps with other B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Studies involving the expression of new antigens and/or other biological approaches are required to identify the WM among the B-cell malignancies and are ongoing in our group.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Karlsson ◽  
Lucy Roalfe ◽  
Harriet Hogevik ◽  
Marta Zancolli ◽  
Björn Andréasson ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTPatients with multiple myeloma and other B cell disorders respond poorly to pneumococcal vaccination. Vaccine responsiveness is commonly determined by measuring pneumococcal serotype-specific antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), by a functional opsonophagocytosis assay (OPA), or by both assays. We compared the two methods in vaccinated elderly patients with multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Postvaccination sera from 45 patients (n= 15 from each patient group) and 15 control subjects were analyzed by multiplexed OPA for pneumococcal serotypes 4, 6B, 14, and 23F, and the results were compared to IgG and IgM antibody titers measured by ELISA. While there were significant correlations between pneumococcal OPA and IgG titers for all serotypes among the control subjects (correlation coefficients [r] between 0.51 and 0.85), no significant correlations were seen for any of the investigated serotypes in the myeloma group (r= −0.18 to 0.21) or in the group with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (borderline significant correlations for 2 of 4 serotypes). The MGUS group resembled the control group by having good agreement between the two test methods for 3 of 4 serotypes (r= 0.53 to 0.80). Pneumococcal postvaccination IgM titers were very low in the myeloma patients compared to the other groups and did not correlate with the OPA results. To summarize, our data indicate that ELISA measurements may overestimate antipneumococcal immunity in elderly subjects with B cell malignancies and that a functional antibody test should be used specifically for myeloma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia patients.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 2291-2291
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Ansell ◽  
Deanna M. Grote ◽  
Steven C. Ziesmer ◽  
Thomas E. Witzig ◽  
Robert A. Kyle ◽  
...  

Abstract Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia is a serious and frequently fatal illness, however many of the mechanisms leading to this disease are not yet known. It is clear, however, that there is dysregulation of the balance between cell proliferation and programmed cell death. BLyS (B-lymphocyte stimulator) is a newly identified TNF family member expressed by monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. BLyS has been shown to be critical for maintenance of normal B cell development and homeostasis, and has been found to stimulate lymphocyte growth. BLyS is overexpressed in a variety of B-cell malignancies and has been shown to inhibit apoptosis in malignant B-cells. Studies of the effects of BLyS on B cell physiology have shown that it also regulates immunoglobulin secretion. To determine the relevance of the BLyS receptor-ligand system in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, we examined malignant B cells from 5 patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia for their ability to bind soluble BLyS and for the expression of the known BLyS receptors, TACI, BAFF-R, or BCMA. The malignant B cells were found to bind BLyS and express BAFF-R and TACI. BCMA expression was undetectable. We then determined the expression of BLyS in bone marrow specimens from 5 patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia by immunohistochemistry and compared it to the expression in 5 normal bone marrow specimens. The lymphoplasmacytic cell infiltrate in the bone marrow of patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia showed significantly increased BLyS expression. We further determined the serum BLyS levels by ELISA in stored serum specimens from patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (n=20), and compared them to serum BLyS levels in other patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma without elevated immunoglobulin levels (n=10) and to serum levels in normal controls (n=50). Serum BLyS levels in Waldenstrom’s patients (mean: 49.6ng/ml) as well as those in patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (mean; 46.7ng/ml) were significantly higher than normal controls (mean 12.6ng/ml). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that malignant B cells from patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia express the receptors for BLyS and can bind soluble BLyS. Furthermore, we have found that serum BLyS levels are significantly elevated in patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia when compared to controls. Strategies to inhibit BLyS may potentially have significant therapeutic efficacy in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 601-601
Author(s):  
Sherine F. Elsawa ◽  
Anne J. Novak ◽  
Deanna M. Grote ◽  
Steven C. Zeismer ◽  
Thomas E. Witzig ◽  
...  

Abstract Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a serious and frequently fatal disorder characterized by the production of a monoclonal IgM protein, a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate in the bone marrow, and associated symptoms including anemia, lymphadenopathy and hyperviscosity. Many of the mechanisms leading to this disease are not yet known. It is clear, however, that there is dysregulation of the balance between cell proliferation and programmed cell death. BLyS (B-lymphocyte stimulator) is a TNF family member expressed by monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. BLyS has been shown to be critical for maintenance of normal B cell development and homeostasis, and has been found to stimulate lymphocyte growth. BLyS is overexpressed in a variety of B-cell malignancies and has been shown to inhibit apoptosis in malignant B-cells. Studies of the effects of BLyS on B cell physiology have shown that it also regulates immunoglobulin secretion. In previous work, we have shown that malignant B cells from patients with WM are able to bind soluble BLyS and variably express the BLyS receptors, BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA. We also found expression of BLyS in bone marrow specimens by immunohistochemistry and elevated serum BLyS levels in patients with WM. The goal of this study was to determine the functional role of BLyS-receptor ligand system in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and its relevance to the increased immunoglobulin production seen in this disease. Using cells from WM patients, we first examined the ability of BLyS to increase the secretion of IgM by malignant B cells. BLyS, alone or in combination with cytokines that induce plasmacytic differentiation and immunoglobulin production (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12), was found to increase IgM secretion by malignant B cells. Mean baseline IgM levels significantly increased in cells treated with BLyS (p=0.03), cytokines (p=0.0002) and a combination of BLyS and cytokines (p<0.0001). We then determined the effect of BLyS on the survival of malignant B cells using Annexin-V/PI staining. Compared to cells cultured in media alone, BLyS was found to increase viability of malignant B cells from WM patients. Cell viability was normalized relative to the media-alone control and the median relative viability increased significantly compared to controls (median increase 41.2%; range 8 – 46%). Next, we examined the ability of BLyS to modulate cell proliferation using thymidine incorporation. Using WM patient samples, BLyS was found to significantly enhance the proliferation of malignant B cells (p=0.0002). Furthermore, addition of anti-Ig antibody further enhanced the ability of BLyS to promote the proliferation of malignant B cells (p<0.0001). In summary, we have demonstrated that BLyS enhances IgM secretion by malignant B cells from patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. We have also demonstrated the ability of BLyS to enhance the survival and proliferation of malignant B cells. Strategies to inhibit BLyS may potentially have therapeutic efficacy in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitra Kriangkum ◽  
Brian J. Taylor ◽  
Tony Reiman ◽  
Andrew R. Belch ◽  
Linda M. Pilarski

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 5277-5277
Author(s):  
Andrea Toma ◽  
Magali Le Garff-Tavernier ◽  
Martine Brissard ◽  
Patrick Bonnemye ◽  
Lucille Musset ◽  
...  

Abstract The immunophenotypic characterization is an essential tool in the diagnosis of hematological malignancies but the immunophenotypic features in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) remain not clearly defined. We studied 96 cases of WM diagnosed by monoclonal IgM in the serum and morphological lymphoplasmacytic bone marrow infiltration, and we compared results to 33 cases of other chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD), including marginal zone (MZL)(n=23), mantle cell (MCL)(n=8) and follicular (FL)(n=2) lymphomas. Patients with a Matutes score &gt;3 (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and with pathognomonic immunophenotype (hairy cell leukemia) were excluded. Immunophenotypic analysis was performed by flow cytometry using six-colour staining (FACS Canto II, Becton Dickinson). In WM and LPD groups, a monoclonal B-cell population was identified in blood (31 and 28 patients, respectively), blood and bone marrow (28 and 4 patients) or bone marrow samples (23 and 1 patients). Overall, 61% of WM patients showed a monoclonal B-cell population in blood. Neoplastic cells of WM and LPD patients with blood and/or bone marrow involvement expressed a monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain kappa (in 70% and 73% of cases respectively) or lambda (30% and 27%). The intensity of expression of the light chain was heterogeneous in both groups (high, normal or low expression in 43%, 27% or 30% of WM, and in 52%, 33% or 15% of LPD, respectively). All pan-B antigens (CD20, CD19, CD79b) were positive for at least 97% of patients. Results obtained with other antigens in WM compared to LPD were: CD10 = 10% vs 7% of patients, CD23 = 33% vs 56%, CD5 = 14% vs 26%, FMC7 = 76% vs 89%, CD38 = 56% vs 41%, CD25 = 86% vs 84%, CD43 = 12% vs 16%, and CD11c = 10% vs 36%. The intensity of expression of these antigens was heterogeneous in both groups. Among the antigens only tested in the WM group, CD1c and CD27 were positive for 70% of patients, IgM and IgD for 95% of patients, and CD103 as well as CD117 were negative in all cases. No difference was found between blood and bone marrow for all previous antigens. Plasma cells (CD38/CD138 positive cells) were found at low levels (less than 2.5% of B-cells) for 46% of WM in blood and/or bone marrow samples. Among the 10 WM patients tested for ZAP-70 expression, 9 were negative and 1 showed a low intensity expression. These results confirm that the immunophenotypic analysis usually performed with standard antigens does not allow defining a typical profile of WM. In order to tentatively identify the WM among the B-cell malignancies, we studied the expression of molecules known to be involved in B-cell development or in costimulatory pathways of antigenic activation, namely CD69, CD83, CD80 and CD86. We first analyzed blood samples of 24 WM patients showing a peripheral monoclonal B-cell population. CD80 was positive (&gt; 20% of B-cells) in all cases and CD83, CD69 and CD86 were always negative. Among these WM patients, 13 were also studied for the bone marrow phenotype. No difference was found between blood and bone marrow phenotype in 11/13 WM cases. We then studied 11 LPD with blood tumoral involvement (MZL(n=7), MCL(n=2) and FL(n=2)). In these LPD, CD69 and CD83 were always negative and, in most cases (9/11 patients), CD80 and CD86 were also negative. Interestingly, CD80 was found positive in 2 patients with MZL, but the CD80 positivity was always associated to the CD86 positivity. Altogether, these data suggest that the inclusion of CD80 and CD86 in the panel of cytometric analysis allow to discriminate WM from other B-LPD with peripheral blood involvement.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4700-4700
Author(s):  
Steven P. Treon ◽  
Christina Hanzis ◽  
Christina Trispsas ◽  
Leukothea Ioakimidis ◽  
Christopher Patterson ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4700 Background: Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is an indolent B-cell malignancy characterized by lymphoplasmacytic cell infiltration of the bone marrow and production of an IgM monoclonal protein. Despite advances in treatment, WM remains incurable and novel agents are needed for ongoing disease control. Bendamustine represents an important novel agent for the treatment of B-cell disorders whose activity in WM remains to be clarified. Patients and Methods: We examined the outcome of 30 previously treated patients with the clinicopathological diagnosis of WM who received bendamustine-based therapy. The median prior therapies was 2 (range 1–9), and 16 (53%) patients were refractory to their previous treatment. Baseline characteristics for all patients: Median BM involvement 60%; serum IgM 3,980 mg/dL; Hct 31.0%; serum B2M 3.5 g/L. Treatment consisted of bendamustine administered at 90 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 2 as part of a 4 week cycle, along with rituximab (375 mg/m2 IV) given once on either day 1 or 2 for 24 patients. In the remainder 6 patients, severe rituximab intolerance prevented re-administration of rituximab. In these patients, bendamustine was either administered alone (n=4) or with ofatumumab (1000 mg IV) given on day 1 (n=2) following a test dose of 300 mg IV on day -7 prior to cycle 1 only. Intended therapy consisted of 4–6 cycles of treatment. Plasmapheresis was performed prior to treatment in patients exhibiting symptomatic hyperviscosity, or who had an IgM level >5,000 mg/dL and were to receive monoclonal antibodies in order to prevent a symptomatic IgM flare. Responses were assessed using modified WM consensus criteria, and patients were eligible for response assessment if they completed > 2 cycles of therapy. Results: 21 patients completed intended therapy; 9 patients continue on treatment. The median number of treatment cycles for all patients is 4 (range 2–6). Following treatment, median serum IgM levels declined from 3,980 to 1,210 mg/dL (p<0.0001), and hematocrit rose from 31.9% to 34.7% (p=0.005) at best response. The overall and major response rates were 80% and 73%, respectively, with 3 VGPR; 19 PR; 2 MR. 6 patients were non-responders. Responders included those patients receiving bendamustine alone (4 PR), or with ofatumumab (1 PR; 1 MR). With a median follow-up of 5 months, 22/24 responders continue in response. Overall, treatment was well tolerated with grade <2 nausea and diarrhea being the most common toxicities encountered. Three patients developed superficial thrombophlebitis at the site of bendamustine infusion, warranting institution of anticoagulation in 1 patient. Prolonged myelosuppression occurred in 3 patients who received previous nucleoside analogue therapy. One patient previously treated with nucleoside analogues and cyclophosphamide developed MDS, and another patient who received previous cyclophosphamide and bortezomib based therapies transformed to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma following bendamustine-based therapy. Conclusion: Bendamustine-based therapy is active in patients with relapsed or refractory WM and produces high response rates and durable responses both as monotherapy, and in combination with CD20 directed monoclonal antibodies. In patients previously treated with nucleoside analogues, prolonged myelosuppression may occur. Long term toxicities of bendamustine-based therapy remain to be clarified in this patient population. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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