Clonal evolution patterns in acute myeloid leukemia with NPM1 mutation

Mutations in the nucleophosmin 1 ( NPM1 ) gene are considered founder mutations in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To characterize the genetic composition of NPM1 mutated ( NPM1 mut ) AML, we assess mutation status of five recurrently mutated oncogenes in 129 paired NPM1 mut samples obtained at diagnosis and relapse. We find a substantial shift in the genetic pattern from diagnosis to relapse including NPM1 mut loss ( n = 11). To better understand these NPM1 mut loss cases, we perform whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNA-Seq. At the time of relapse, NPM1 mut loss patients (pts) feature distinct mutational patterns that share almost no somatic mutation with the corresponding diagnosis sample and impact different signaling pathways. In contrast, profiles of pts with persistent NPM1 mut are reflected by a high overlap of mutations between diagnosis and relapse. Our findings confirm that relapse often originates from persistent leukemic clones, though NPM1 mut loss cases suggest a second “de novo” or treatment-associated AML (tAML) as alternative cause of relapse. NPM1 gene mutation is a founding event in acute myeloid leukaemia. Here, the authors find that at relapse, some patients lose the NPM1 mutation and show distinct mutational and gene expression patterns, highlighting a potential route for relapse.