Targeted next-generation sequencing: A comprehensive genetic profiling tool to simultaneously detect copy number variants and somatic mutations in myeloid malignancies

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a high throughput analytical tool used for diagnosis of hereditary disorders such as myeloid malignancies. Copy number variants (CNVs) and genetic aberrations are used as a prognostic biomarker in myeloid malignancies. A targeted NGS assay is widely employed to identify targeted mutations, such as point mutations/single-nucleotide variants, insertions, and deletions. However, the potential use of the targeted NGS assay to detect common CNVs in myeloid malignancies compared with the traditional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panel, and conventional chromosome analysis (CCA) is still not completely determined.

In a recent proof-of-principle study, published in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostic, Liqun Jiang and colleagues¹ compare the detection of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) CNVs by a targeted NGS with routine clinical methods (MDS FISH, and CCA). The study aimed to explore the possibility of using targeted NGS to identify somatic mutations and CNVs at the same time.

Methods

Samples of bone marrow or blood from 406 patients were analyzed using MDS FISH, targeted NGS, and CCA, and only 91 specimens with an abnormal MDS FISH panel were selected for the study. However, 315 normal samples were further characterized using CCA and targeted NGS. Figure 1 describes an outline of the methods employed in the study.

Figure 1. Methods*

CCA, conventional chromosome analysis; CN-LOH, copy neutral-loss of heterozygosity; CNV, copy number variant; FISH, fluorescent in situ hybridization; NGS, next-generation sequencing.
*Adapted from L. Jiang et al.¹

Results

A succinct summary of the results is presented in Figure 2, and key outcomes are as follows:

• Among 315 normal cases as per FISH panel, 57 had abnormal karyotype. In 258 patients with normal karyotypes, three cases were identified to carry CNVs as identified by targeted NGS.
• In total, 91 abnormal cases were detected by CCA and MDS FISH, and the targeted NGS was in complete agreement to the outcomes of both conventional methods.
• Targeted NGS also identified missed mutations in a number of cases, either due to the fact that these deletions were cryptic and were beyond the limits of CCA, or not covered by the FISH probes. Two cases had 5q deletions, one case had 20q deletions, and one case had a cryptic deletion of 7q22 in CUX1 and EPHB4 genes. Three-quarters of patients were reported to have deletions in the CUX1 and EPHB4 genes along with −7/7q deletions.
• Patients with 7q abnormalities also had deletions in the MET, SMO, and more commonly TRIM24, genes; it is advised that evaluation of neoplastic transformation in patients with 7q deletions, and regions around the TRIM24 gene and co-occurring gene mutations may provide more information about pathogenesis in myeloid malignancies.
• Copy neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN-LOH), which is associated with a higher risk of disease recurrence, could not be picked by the two conventional methods. For instance, the targeted NGS assay identified one case with a CN-LOH in chromosome 13 with an internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the FLT3 gene on chromosome 13q, and a variant allele fraction (VAF) of approximately 79%. This suggests duplication of oncogenic mutations and loss of normal alleles of genes.

Figure 2. Summary of the study outcomes (comparison of the three methods, FISH, CCA, and NGS)* 
CCA, conventional chromosome analysis; CNV, copy number variant; FISH, fluorescent in situ hybridization; NGS, next-generation sequencing. 
*Adapted from L. Jiang L et al.¹