Journal List > Blood Res > v.54(1) > 1119307

Yi and Kim: Coexistence of BCR/ABL1-positive chronic myeloid leukemia and JAK2 V617F-mutated myelofibrosis successfully treated with dasatinib and ruxolitinib
TO THE EDITOR: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by the proliferation of cells of one or more of the myeloid lineages. Depending on the presence or absence of a BCR/ABL1 translocation, they can be divided into BCR/ABL1-positive chronic myeloid leukemias (CMLs) and BCR/ABL1-negative MPNs, respectively [1]. Thus, by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, primary myeloid fibrosis (PMF) cannot coexist with CML, as the exclusion of CML is one of the major criteria for PMF diagnosis. However, there are a few reports that have described the coexistence of the two diseases [234]. Herein, we report the case of a patient who initially presented with features of CML and PMF. He was treated with dasatinib, and soon after experienced aggravated constitutional symptoms as well as leukocytosis. Concomitant administration of ruxolitinib ameliorated his symptoms.
The 68-year-old man had visited our clinic with hematologic test abnormalities; that is, 28,710/µL for white blood cell (WBC) counts, 10.4 g/dL for hemoglobin, and 244,000/µL for platelet counts. A peripheral blood smear examination demonstrated an excess of myelocytes and metamyelocytes. Elevation of the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LD) level was also noted. His abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated marked splenomegaly (22.7 cm).
Suspecting an MPN of mostly CML, a bone marrow examination was done. The cellularity was almost 100% and prominent granulopoiesis was noted. The megakaryocytes were high in number, and some of them showed atypia, such as decreased cytoplasm, cloud-like nuclei, and dense cluster formation (Fig. 1). A grade I-II fibrosis was observed. Regarding the cytogenetics, a BCR/ABL1 translocation was observed in 9 out of 21 (42.8%) cells by chromosomal analysis and in 246 out of 400 (61.5%) cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The transcript level determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) was 65.7% IS (international scale). In addition, a JAK2-V617F mutation was detected. These findings were sufficient for the diagnosis of CML. The patient was started on dasatinib 100 mg once daily on May 13, 2016. During the first 3 months of treatment, the patient had never achieved a complete hematologic response, as the leukocyte counts remained at around 15,000/µL.
In the bone marrow examination done at 3 months, atypical megakaryocytes were still noted as well as grade II fibrosis. A CT scan revealed the spleen size to be 20.9 cm. Suspecting treatment failure, the dasatinib was increased to 140 mg once daily. Five days later, a complete cytogenetic response test reported none of the 14 cells by chromosomal analysis and none of the 400 cells by FISH had the BCR/ABL1 translocation. A major molecular response was also achieved (0.07% IS). When the patient visited the clinic 2 weeks later, he complained of constitutional symptoms, such as fever, poor oral intake, headache, and severe fatigue. Unexpected leukocytosis (37,860/µL) and anemia (7.9 g/dL) were noted. He was started on hydroxyurea to ameliorate his leukocytosis, and the dasatinib was reduced to 100 mg once daily. Two weeks later, his WBC count had decreased and his symptoms also improved. Because hydroxyurea worsened his anemia, he had taken it temporarily, and when he stopped it, the WBC count increased. At the 6-month evaluation, the bone marrow findings were not significantly different from the previous findings. The spleen size had decreased slightly to 18.8 cm. Complete cytogenetic and molecular (0.00% IS) responses were also sustained. Despite these responses, the patient had been dependent on hydroxyurea for control of the symptoms and leukocytosis.
We assumed that both CML and PMF clones existed, and suppressing the CML clones may have stimulated the PMF clone, which resulted in leukocytosis and aggravation of the constitutional symptoms. Thus, on December 9, 2016, the patient started to take ruxolitinib 20 mg twice daily concurrently with dasatinib. At this time, his MPN10 score was 62, and the international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) group was high-risk owing to his age, symptoms, and leukocytosis. The leukocytosis resolved after 2 weeks, and so did the constitutional symptoms. In March 2017, after 3 months of ruxolitinib treatment, the MPN10 score improved to 26 and the spleen size decreased to 16.7 cm. The IPSS grouping was intermediate-1, owing to his age. After 12 months of dasatinib treatment, a bone marrow examination carried out in May 2017 demonstrated still-noted hypercellularity, atypical megakaryocytes, and grade III myelofibrosis. Continuing complete cytogenetic and molecular responses were observed.
The patient continued to take dasatinib and ruxolitinib until April 2017. He then stopped taking ruxolitinib because of an insurance issue, whereupon the constitutional symptoms and leukocytosis recurred. He resumed the concurrent treatment in July 2017 and the dose of ruxolitinib was decreased to 15 mg twice daily because of anemia and thrombocytopenia. He has been taking both drugs for 18 months while maintaining the major molecular response and improvement in MPN10 score of over 50%. In May 2018, 2-year follow-up studies were performed. The transcript level determined by RQ-PCR was 0.06% IS, and the spleen size had decreased to 16.2 cm. The IPSS grouping was intermediate-1. Bone marrow examination showed grade III myelofibrosis with increased fibroblasts. The clinicolaboratory course is described in Fig. 2.
We have described the case of a patient who initially presented the features of both CML and PMF. After taking dasatinib, he promptly achieved cytogenetic and molecular responses but not a hematologic response. Moreover, increasing the dose of dasatinib induced aggravated leukocytosis and constitutional symptoms. Despite the sustained molecular response, the persistent leukocytosis and constitutional symptoms bothered the patient, but these resolved after he started taking ruxolitinib. He has been faring well for 18 months with the concurrent treatment.
According to the WHO classification, the diagnosis of CML and that of other BCR/ABL1-negative MPNs are mutually exclusive. However, there are several reports of the synchronous existence of both CML and PMF [234], or polycythemia vera [56]. The common findings of these reports were manifestations of MPNs (myelofibrosis, development of constitutional symptoms, or erythrocytosis) and an increase of JAK2 burden that occurred after treatment with a BCR/ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).
In our case, the patient was definitively diagnosed with CML as he presented with granulocytosis, an excess of precursors, and the presence of BCR/ABL1 translocation. At the same time, he also presented with several features favoring the diagnosis of PMF. First, an initial bone marrow examination showed fibrosis, and the megakaryocytes were large with cellular atypia typically found in PMF. Second, the patient had a JAK2 mutation, which is not a common finding in patients with CML [78]. Third, only 9 out of 21 cells harbored the BCR/ABL1 translocation according to chromosomal analysis, suggesting the existence of another clone. The subsequent findings after dasatinib treatment further confirmed that there were two clones competing with each other. Despite the prompt cytogenetic and molecular responses, the patient failed to achieve a hematologic response. Moreover, increasing the dasatinib dose aggravated the leukocytosis and constitutional symptoms, for which hydroxyurea was required. In addition, the progression of fibrosis was not impeded. It remains to be elucidated how these distinct clones developed. There are several cases of CML developing after the long-term treatment of MPNs [910]. One hypothesis was that the first hit was a JAK2 mutation, and constitutional JAK2-mediated signals may have contributed to BCR/ABL1-mutated clonal evolution.
Ruxolitinib is a potent JAK inhibitor, and its major role in PMF is for symptom control. Thus, its incorporation into BCR/ABL1 TKI treatment is challenging as it also worsens anemia or thrombocytopenia, which was also the reason we had to reduce the dose for our patient.
Our experience provides several clinical implications. First, CML and other types of MPNs may coexist, even though the incidence may be very rare. Second, physicians should consider hidden MPNs when there are discrepancies in the molecular response and clinical response in CML. Third, although dasatinib and ruxolitinib can be safely combined, hematologic adverse events may be a concern. This is one of the few case reports of a patient who initially had features of both CML and PMF, and to the best of our knowledge, the first case report of treating such a patient with dasatinib and ruxolitinib.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Bone marrow biopsy specimens at the time of diagnosis (hematoxylin and eosin stain, ×400). Atypical megakaryocytes showing cloud-like nuclei with a high nucleusto-cytoplasm ratio (A). Dense clusters of megakaryocytes (B).

br-54-77-g001
Fig. 2

Clinicolaboratory course of the patient. a)Number of Ph+ cells/number of analyzed cells by chromosome analysis; b)Number of Ph+ cells/number of analyzed cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Ph+, Philadelphia chromosome-positive.

br-54-77-g002

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Chung-Ang University Research Grants in 2017.

Notes

Authors' Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

References

1. Swerdlow SH, Campo E, Harris NL, editors. WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Revised 4th ed. Lyon, France: IARC Press;2017.
2. Hussein K, Bock O, Seegers A, et al. Myelofibrosis evolving during imatinib treatment of a chronic myeloproliferative disease with coexisting BCR-ABL translocation and JAK2V617F mutation. Blood. 2007; 109:4106–4107.
crossref
3. Krämer A, Reiter A, Kruth J, et al. JAK2-V617F mutation in a patient with Philadelphia-chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia. Lancet Oncol. 2007; 8:658–660.
crossref pmid
4. Bornhäuser M, Mohr B, Oelschlaegel U, et al. Concurrent JAK2(V617F) mutation and BCR-ABL translocation within committed myeloid progenitors in myelofibrosis. Leukemia. 2007; 21:1824–1826.
crossref pmid
5. Inami M, Inokuchi K, Okabe M, et al. Polycythemia associated with the JAK2V617F mutation emerged during treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Leukemia. 2007; 21:1103–1104.
crossref pmid
6. Cambier N, Renneville A, Cazaentre T, et al. JAK2V617F-positive polycythemia vera and Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia: one patient with two distinct myeloproliferative disorders. Leukemia. 2008; 22:1454–1455.
crossref pmid
7. Makishima H, Jankowska AM, McDevitt MA, et al. CBL, CBLB, TET2, ASXL1, and IDH1/2 mutations and additional chromosomal aberrations constitute molecular events in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Blood. 2011; 117:e198–e206.
crossref
8. Pieri L, Spolverini A, Scappini B, et al. Concomitant occurrence of BCR-ABL and JAK2V617F mutation. Blood. 2011; 118:3445–3446.
crossref pmid
9. Zhou A, Knoche EM, Engle EK, Fisher DA, Oh ST. Concomitant JAK2 V617F-positive polycythemia vera and BCR-ABL-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia treated with ruxolitinib and dasatinib. Blood Cancer J. 2015; 5:e351.
crossref
10. Iurlo A, Gianelli U, Rapezzi D, et al. Imatinib and ruxolitinib association: first experience in two patients. Haematologica. 2014; 99:e76–e77.
crossref
TOOLS
Similar articles