2018 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Genomic Profiling of Childhood Acute Leukemia in North of Iraq
Project/Area Number |
18K07295
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Research Institution | Shinshu University |
Principal Investigator |
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Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
奥野 友介 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 特任講師 (00725533)
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Project Period (FY) |
2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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Keywords | FTA / ALL / AML / NGS / Iraq / RAS mutation |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Dried blood spot-derived DNA was proved successful for the molecular diagnosis of hematological malignancies. Given that genetic studies are not yet available in Iraq, we proceed to evaluate the genetic background of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Iraq, using next generation sequencing (NGS). Since April 2018, we collected 63 cases of ALL, AML and acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL), from 4 centers in Iraq, including 2 hospitals in the Northern Iraq (Sulaymaniyah and Duhok), as well as one in Baghdad and one in Basra. Out of the 63, 41 cases had paired samples (at diagnosis and at remission), including 32, 8 and 1 cases of ALL, AML and AUL, respectively. The rest 22 cases were either not sufficient in regard to DNA concentration (n=3) or died before reaching remission (n=9) or were transferred to be treated out of Iraq (n=2) or abandon therapy (n=8). Whole exome sequencing using Flinders Technology Associates (FTA)-derived DNA was satisfactory in terms of sequencing coverage, sensitivity, and error rate. The spectrum of somatic mutations was comparable to other countries, with slightly higher RAS-mutations frequency: (3/18, ALL) in agreement with our previous report. We presented the progress in our data (since 2016) in 3 conferences during 2018-2019; the 80th Japanese Society of Hematology in Osaka 2018 (October 12-14), the 50th SIOP in Kyoto 2018 (November 16-19), and in 18th annual Japan Iraq Medical Network (JIM-NET) meeting in Iraq (22nd -23rd February 2019).
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
We primarily got the ethical approval for the study from the medical institutes in Japan, including Shinshu University School of Medicine and Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, as well as from the Ministry of Health in Iraq. The FTA cards collection is going on smoothly from 4 pediatric oncology centers in Iraq. We are collaborating with the doctors in these centers, who are collecting the samples of acute leukemia sequentially (Day 0 upon diagnosis and Day 30 or more upon remission) and send us the electronic coded excel sheet of their cases. The FTA samples are collected and stocked in the centers in Iraq for a while and then transferred to Japan through the arrangement with coordinators. The DNA extraction is carried on in Shinshu University, and the next generation sequencing is done in Nagoya University.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Our plan is to collect another 50 cases of childhood acute leukemia from Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah mainly, because they are receiving the bulk of cases in Iraq, and their contribution is much organized. Baghdad center is receiving patients from many areas of Iraq including the Southern Iraq, while Sulaymaniyah is receiving mainly from Northern Iraq. As we have done last year, we are planning to present our updated results in the coming conferences in Japan or in Iraq. On the other hand, we want to publish our new results in a paper concerned with the update of the molecular background of the pediatric acute leukemia in Iraq. Since that next generation sequencing is very costly, we are planning also to get another fund as soon as possible to facilitate the work progress.
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Causes of Carryover |
Our plan is to collect another 50 cases of childhood acute leukemia from Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah mainly, because they are receiving the bulk of cases in Iraq, and their contribution is much organized. Also we want to publish our new results in a paper concerned with the update of the molecular background of the pediatric acute leukemia in Iraq. Since that next generation sequencing is very costly, we are planning also to get another fund as soon as possible to facilitate the work progress.
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