Prognostic correlation of NOTCH1 and SF3B1 mutations with chromosomal abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a monoclonal malignancy of B lymphocytes. Since common mutations in NOTCH1 and SF3B1, along with other possible chromosomal alterations, change disease severity and survival of patients with CLL, we aimed to evaluate the correlation of common mutations in NOTCH1 and SF3B1 as the poor prognostic markers with chromosomal abnormalities and clinical hematology. METHOD: This retrospective study was performed on the peripheral blood of 51 patients diagnosed before chemotherapy with CLL. G‐banding karyotype and FISH were performed. For NOTCH1, exon 34 and for SF3B1, exons 14,15,16 were assessed using Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The mutation frequency of NOTCH1 and SF3B1 with the pathogenic clinical status was 6:51 (11.76%), and variants obtained from both genes were 9:51 (17.64%). The frequency of SF3B1 mutation (K666E) was higher than in previous studies (p‐value <.05). There was a significant correlation between NOTCH1 mutations and del17p13 (p‐value = .068), also SF3B1 mutations with del11q22 (p‐value = .095) and del13q14 (p‐value = .066). Up to 90% of the specific stimuli used for the G‐banding karyotype successfully identified the malignant clone. There was a significant relationship between the cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) expression level and NOTCH1 mutations (p‐value = .019) and a significant correlation between Binet classification and the SF3B1 (p‐value = .096). CONCLUSION: The correlation of NOTCH1 and SF3B1 mutations with chromosomal abnormalities and CD38 expression may reveal the overall patient's survival rate. The mutations may be effective in the clonal expansion and progression of CLL, particularly in the diagnosis stage, as well as the control and management of the treatment.