the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

Copy number alterations (CNAs), specifically early B-cell factor 1 (EBF1), Ikaros family zinc finger 1 (IKZF1), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/B (CDKN2A/B) deletions, demonstrated an independent adverse prognosis for both adolescents and adults with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to an article published online in the journal Cancer.

Participants in the study included 142 adolescents and adults diagnosed with de novo precursor B-cell ALL. The investigators analyzed the prognostic impact of CNAs of 12 genetic regions.

Results showed CDKN2A/B was the most frequent CNA (59 of 142; 42%) while IKZF1 was the second most frequent (49 of 142; 35%).

The IKZF1 deletions had a greater prevalence in Philadelphia chromosome (PH)-positive ALL and were linked to advanced age and high white blood cell (WBC) counts.

These IKZF1 deletions (HR, 1.869) and high WBC counts (HR, 1.005) were reported to be associated with disease recurrence.

Furthermore, EBF1 losses and advanced age were found to be associated with chemotherapy resistance in patients in the whole series (HR, 0.135 and 0.949, respectively) and the Ph-negative subgroup (HR, 0.118 and 0.946, respectively).

The authors determined advanced age and CDKN2A/B deletions influenced overall survival in both the whole series and the Ph-negative subgroup (HR, 1.038 vs. 1.044 and HR, 2.545 vs. 2.105, respectively).