Heterogeneous genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapy

Acute myeloid leukaemia is prevalent in older patients that are often ineligible for intensive chemotherapy and treatment options remain limited with azacitidine being at the forefront. Azacitidine has been used in the clinic for decades, however, we still lack a complete understanding of the mechan...

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Main Authors: Symeonidou, V, Metzner, M, Usukhbayar, B, Jackson, AE, Fox, S, Craddock, CF, Vyas, P
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022
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author Symeonidou, V
Metzner, M
Usukhbayar, B
Jackson, AE
Fox, S
Craddock, CF
Vyas, P
author_facet Symeonidou, V
Metzner, M
Usukhbayar, B
Jackson, AE
Fox, S
Craddock, CF
Vyas, P
author_sort Symeonidou, V
collection OXFORD
description Acute myeloid leukaemia is prevalent in older patients that are often ineligible for intensive chemotherapy and treatment options remain limited with azacitidine being at the forefront. Azacitidine has been used in the clinic for decades, however, we still lack a complete understanding of the mechanisms by which the drug exerts its anti-tumour effect. To gain insight into the mechanism of action, we defined the mutational profile of sequential samples of patients treated with azacitidine. We did not identify any mutations that could predict response and observed lack of a uniform pattern of clonal evolution. Focusing on responders, at remission, we observed three types of response: (1) an almost complete elimination of mutations (33%), (2) no change (17%), and (3) change with no discernible pattern (50%). Heterogeneous patterns were also observed at relapse, with no clonal evolution between remission and relapse in some patients. Lack of clonal evolution suggests that non-genetic mechanisms might be involved. Towards understanding such mechanisms, we investigated the immune microenvironment in a number of patients and we observed lack of a uniform response following therapy. We identified a higher frequency of cytotoxic T cells in responders and higher frequency of naïve helper T cells in non-responders.
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spelling oxford-uuid:003ee81c-fd52-4b7e-89e3-d84f3a740d782022-11-25T14:31:15ZHeterogeneous genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:003ee81c-fd52-4b7e-89e3-d84f3a740d78EnglishSymplectic ElementsWiley2022Symeonidou, VMetzner, MUsukhbayar, BJackson, AEFox, SCraddock, CFVyas, PAcute myeloid leukaemia is prevalent in older patients that are often ineligible for intensive chemotherapy and treatment options remain limited with azacitidine being at the forefront. Azacitidine has been used in the clinic for decades, however, we still lack a complete understanding of the mechanisms by which the drug exerts its anti-tumour effect. To gain insight into the mechanism of action, we defined the mutational profile of sequential samples of patients treated with azacitidine. We did not identify any mutations that could predict response and observed lack of a uniform pattern of clonal evolution. Focusing on responders, at remission, we observed three types of response: (1) an almost complete elimination of mutations (33%), (2) no change (17%), and (3) change with no discernible pattern (50%). Heterogeneous patterns were also observed at relapse, with no clonal evolution between remission and relapse in some patients. Lack of clonal evolution suggests that non-genetic mechanisms might be involved. Towards understanding such mechanisms, we investigated the immune microenvironment in a number of patients and we observed lack of a uniform response following therapy. We identified a higher frequency of cytotoxic T cells in responders and higher frequency of naïve helper T cells in non-responders.
spellingShingle Symeonidou, V
Metzner, M
Usukhbayar, B
Jackson, AE
Fox, S
Craddock, CF
Vyas, P
Heterogeneous genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapy
title Heterogeneous genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapy
title_full Heterogeneous genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapy
title_fullStr Heterogeneous genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Heterogeneous genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapy
title_short Heterogeneous genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapy
title_sort heterogeneous genetic and non genetic mechanisms contribute to response and resistance to azacitidine monotherapy
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