Case Report: ASXL1, RUNX1, and IDH1 mutation in tyrosine kinase-independent resistant chronic myeloid leukemia progressing to chronic myelomonocytic leukemia-like accelerated phase

Although the majority of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) enjoy an excellent prognosis tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy, resistance remains a significant clinical problem. Resistance can arise from mutations in the kinase domain of ABL preventing drug binding, or due to ill-defined kinase-independent mechanisms. In this case report, we describe the case of a 27-year-old woman with a long-standing history of chronic phase (CP) CML who developed kinase-independent resistance with mutations in ASXL1 and RUNX1. As a consequence of uncontrolled disease, she progressed to a chronic myelomonocytic leukemia-like (CMML) accelerated phase (AP) disease with the acquisition of a mutation in IDH1. This disease progression was associated with the development of an inflammatory serositis, a phenomenon that has been described in CMML but not in AP-CML. This case presents key features of kinase-independent resistance with insight into potential mechanisms, highlights management challenges, and describes a novel systemic inflammatory response that occurred in this patient upon disease progression.

Automated summary

This is a case report on a 27-year-old female with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who developed kinase-independent resistance and disease progression. The patient initially had chronic phase (CP) CML and acquired mutations in ASXL1 and RUNX1. Due to uncontrolled disease, she progressed to a chronic myelomonocytic leukemia-like (CMML) accelerated phase (AP) disease and obtained an IDH1 mutation. The disease progression was associated with the development of an inflammatory serositis, a phenomenon not typically observed in AP-CML.