Assessing the Role of BCOR/BCORL1 and Other Historically Low-Frequency Somatic Mutations in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies that are characterized by aberrant hematopoiesis and consequently abnormal blood counts. Patients with MDS have an increased likelihood of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Next generation sequencing (NGS) is currently being used to study the genetic landscapes of diverse cancer types in finer detail than has previously been possible, owing to its ease-of-use and widespread availability. Crucially, the accuracy and broad breadth of genomic coverage provided by NGS approaches may permit the study of mutations that are rare in MDS patients, yet well studied in AML or other cancer types. Based on the fact that much less is known about particular rare somatic mutations in MDS, we decided to investigate 6 genes. IDH1 and IDH2 are targetable in patients with AML. Mutations in JAK2 are found in high proportions in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) or MDS/MPN overlap neoplasms. Finally, other mutations in genes such as BCOR, BCORL1, and MUTYH also occur in MDS patients with appreciable-but generally low-frequencies such that their overall impact on MDS patients is largely unknown.