HAEM5:Acute myeloid leukaemia with CEBPA mutation

Haematolymphoid Tumours (WHO Classification, 5th ed.)

editContent Update To WHO 5th Edition Classification Is In Process; Content Below is Based on WHO 4th Edition Classification

This page was converted to the new template on 2023-12-07. The original page can be found at HAEM4:Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with Biallelic Mutations of CEBPA.

(General Instructions – The focus of these pages is the clinically significant genetic alterations in each disease type. This is based on up-to-date knowledge from multiple resources such as PubMed and the WHO classification books. The CCGA is meant to be a supplemental resource to the WHO classification books; the CCGA captures in a continually updated wiki-stye manner the current genetics/genomics knowledge of each disease, which evolves more rapidly than books can be revised and published. If the same disease is described in multiple WHO classification books, the genetics-related information for that disease will be consolidated into a single main page that has this template (other pages would only contain a link to this main page). Use HUGO-approved gene names and symbols (italicized when appropriate), HGVS-based nomenclature for variants, as well as generic names of drugs and testing platforms or assays if applicable. Please complete tables whenever possible and do not delete them (add N/A if not applicable in the table and delete the examples); to add (or move) a row or column in a table, click nearby within the table and select the > symbol that appears. Please do not delete or alter the section headings. The use of bullet points alongside short blocks of text rather than only large paragraphs is encouraged. Additional instructions below in italicized blue text should not be included in the final page content. Please also see Author_Instructions and FAQs as well as contact your Associate Editor or Technical Support.)

Primary Author(s)*

Xinxiu Xu, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

WHO Classification of Disease

Structure	Disease
Book	Haematolymphoid Tumours (5th ed.)
Category	Myeloid proliferations and neoplasms
Family	Acute myeloid leukaemia
Type	Acute myeloid leukaemia with defining genetic abnormalities
Subtype(s)	Acute myeloid leukaemia with CEBPA mutation

WHO Essential and Desirable Genetic Diagnostic Criteria

(Instructions: The table will have the diagnostic criteria from the WHO book autocompleted; remove any non-genetics related criteria. If applicable, add text about other classification systems that define this entity and specify how the genetics-related criteria differ.)

WHO Essential Criteria (Genetics)*
WHO Desirable Criteria (Genetics)*
Other Classification

*Note: These are only the genetic/genomic criteria. Additional diagnostic criteria can be found in the WHO Classification of Tumours.

Related Terminology

(Instructions: The table will have the related terminology from the WHO autocompleted.)

Acceptable
Not Recommended

Gene Rearrangements

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Details on clinical significance such as prognosis and other important information can be provided in the notes section. Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Driver Gene	Fusion(s) and Common Partner Genes	Molecular Pathogenesis	Typical Chromosomal Alteration(s)	Prevalence -Common >20%, Recurrent 5-20% or Rare <5% (Disease)	Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Significance - D, P, T	Established Clinical Significance Per Guidelines - Yes or No (Source)	Clinical Relevance Details/Other Notes
EXAMPLE: ABL1	EXAMPLE: BCR::ABL1	EXAMPLE: The pathogenic derivative is the der(22) resulting in fusion of 5’ BCR and 3’ABL1.	EXAMPLE: t(9;22)(q34;q11.2)	EXAMPLE: Common (CML)	EXAMPLE: D, P, T	EXAMPLE: Yes (WHO, NCCN)	EXAMPLE: The t(9;22) is diagnostic of CML in the appropriate morphology and clinical context (add reference). This fusion is responsive to targeted therapy such as Imatinib (Gleevec) (add reference). BCR::ABL1 is generally favorable in CML (add reference).
EXAMPLE: CIC	EXAMPLE: CIC::DUX4	EXAMPLE: Typically, the last exon of CIC is fused to DUX4. The fusion breakpoint in CIC is usually intra-exonic and removes an inhibitory sequence, upregulating PEA3 genes downstream of CIC including ETV1, ETV4, and ETV5.	EXAMPLE: t(4;19)(q25;q13)	EXAMPLE: Common (CIC-rearranged sarcoma)	EXAMPLE: D		EXAMPLE: DUX4 has many homologous genes; an alternate translocation in a minority of cases is t(10;19), but this is usually indistinguishable from t(4;19) by short-read sequencing (add references).
EXAMPLE: ALK	EXAMPLE: ELM4::ALK Other fusion partners include KIF5B, NPM1, STRN, TFG, TPM3, CLTC, KLC1	EXAMPLE: Fusions result in constitutive activation of the ALK tyrosine kinase. The most common ALK fusion is EML4::ALK, with breakpoints in intron 19 of ALK. At the transcript level, a variable (5’) partner gene is fused to 3’ ALK at exon 20. Rarely, ALK fusions contain exon 19 due to breakpoints in intron 18.	EXAMPLE: N/A	EXAMPLE: Rare (Lung adenocarcinoma)	EXAMPLE: T		EXAMPLE: Both balanced and unbalanced forms are observed by FISH (add references).
EXAMPLE: ABL1	EXAMPLE: N/A	EXAMPLE: Intragenic deletion of exons 2–7 in EGFR removes the ligand-binding domain, resulting in a constitutively active tyrosine kinase with downstream activation of multiple oncogenic pathways.	EXAMPLE: N/A	EXAMPLE: Recurrent (IDH-wildtype Glioblastoma)	EXAMPLE: D, P, T

editv4:Chromosomal Rearrangements (Gene Fusions)

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None

Chromosomal Rearrangement	Genes in Fusion (5’ or 3’ Segments)	Pathogenic Derivative	Prevalence
EXAMPLE: t(9;22)(q34;q11.2)	EXAMPLE: 3'ABL1 / 5'BCR	EXAMPLE: der(22)	EXAMPLE: 5%
EXAMPLE: t(8;21)(q22;q22)	EXAMPLE: 5'RUNX1 / 3'RUNXT1	EXAMPLE: der(8)	EXAMPLE: 5%

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editv4:Clinical Significance (Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Implications).

Please incorporate this section into the relevant tables found in:

• Chromosomal Rearrangements (Gene Fusions)
• Individual Region Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH
• Characteristic Chromosomal Patterns
• Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)

Patients with biallelic CEBPA mutations and a normal karyotype have a more favorable prognosis than those with monoallelic or no CEBPA mutations, with higher complete remission rates and longer disease-free survival, relapse-free survival, event-free survival, and overall survival. Patients with abnormal karyotypes (but not complex karyotypes) and biallelic CEBPA mutations also have longer disease-free survival, event-free survival, and overall survival when compared to patients with monoallelic or no CEBPA mutations.

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Individual Region Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Includes aberrations not involving gene rearrangements. Details on clinical significance such as prognosis and other important information can be provided in the notes section. Can refer to CGC workgroup tables as linked on the homepage if applicable. Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Chr #	Gain, Loss, Amp, LOH	Minimal Region Cytoband and/or Genomic Coordinates [Genome Build; Size]	Relevant Gene(s)	Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Significance - D, P, T	Established Clinical Significance Per Guidelines - Yes or No (Source)	Clinical Relevance Details/Other Notes
EXAMPLE: 7	EXAMPLE: Loss	EXAMPLE: chr7	EXAMPLE: Unknown	EXAMPLE: D, P	EXAMPLE: No	EXAMPLE: Presence of monosomy 7 (or 7q deletion) is sufficient for a diagnosis of AML with MDS-related changes when there is ≥20% blasts and no prior therapy (add reference).  Monosomy 7/7q deletion is associated with a poor prognosis in AML (add references).
EXAMPLE: 8	EXAMPLE: Gain	EXAMPLE: chr8	EXAMPLE: Unknown	EXAMPLE: D, P		EXAMPLE: Common recurrent secondary finding for t(8;21) (add references).
EXAMPLE: 17	EXAMPLE: Amp	EXAMPLE: 17q12; chr17:39,700,064-39,728,658 [hg38; 28.6 kb]	EXAMPLE: ERBB2	EXAMPLE: D, P, T		EXAMPLE: Amplification of ERBB2 is associated with HER2 overexpression in HER2 positive breast cancer (add references). Add criteria for how amplification is defined.

editv4:Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH

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None

Chromosome Number	Gain/Loss/Amp/LOH	Region
EXAMPLE: 8	EXAMPLE: Gain	EXAMPLE: chr8:0-1000000
EXAMPLE: 7	EXAMPLE: Loss	EXAMPLE: chr7:0-1000000

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Characteristic Chromosomal or Other Global Mutational Patterns

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Included in this category are alterations such as hyperdiploid; gain of odd number chromosomes including typically chromosome 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 17; co-deletion of 1p and 19q; complex karyotypes without characteristic genetic findings; chromothripsis; microsatellite instability; homologous recombination deficiency; mutational signature pattern; etc. Details on clinical significance such as prognosis and other important information can be provided in the notes section. Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Chromosomal Pattern	Molecular Pathogenesis	Prevalence - Common >20%, Recurrent 5-20% or Rare <5% (Disease)	Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Significance - D, P, T	Established Clinical Significance Per Guidelines - Yes or No (Source)	Clinical Relevance Details/Other Notes
EXAMPLE: Co-deletion of 1p and 18q	EXAMPLE: See chromosomal rearrangements table as this pattern is due to an unbalanced derivative translocation associated with oligodendroglioma (add reference).	EXAMPLE: Common (Oligodendroglioma)	EXAMPLE: D, P
EXAMPLE: Microsatellite instability - hypermutated		EXAMPLE: Common (Endometrial carcinoma)	EXAMPLE: P, T

editv4:Characteristic Chromosomal Aberrations / Patterns

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None

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Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: This table is not meant to be an exhaustive list; please include only genes/alterations that are recurrent or common as well either disease defining and/or clinically significant. If a gene has multiple mechanisms depending on the type or site of the alteration, add multiple entries in the table. For clinical significance, denote associations with FDA-approved therapy (not an extensive list of applicable drugs) and NCCN or other national guidelines if applicable; Can also refer to CGC workgroup tables as linked on the homepage if applicable as well as any high impact papers or reviews of gene mutations in this entity. Details on clinical significance such as prognosis and other important information such as concomitant and mutually exclusive mutations can be provided in the notes section. Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Gene	Genetic Alteration	Tumor Suppressor Gene, Oncogene, Other	Prevalence - Common >20%, Recurrent 5-20% or Rare <5% (Disease)	Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Significance - D, P, T	Established Clinical Significance Per Guidelines - Yes or No (Source)	Clinical Relevance Details/Other Notes
EXAMPLE:EGFR	EXAMPLE: Exon 18-21 activating mutations	EXAMPLE: Oncogene	EXAMPLE: Common (lung cancer)	EXAMPLE: T	EXAMPLE: Yes (NCCN)	EXAMPLE: Exons 18, 19, and 21 mutations are targetable for therapy. Exon 20 T790M variants cause resistance to first generation TKI therapy and are targetable by second and third generation TKIs (add references).
EXAMPLE: TP53; Variable LOF mutations	EXAMPLE: Variable LOF mutations	EXAMPLE: Tumor Supressor Gene	EXAMPLE: Common (breast cancer)	EXAMPLE: P		EXAMPLE: >90% are somatic; rare germline alterations associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (add reference). Denotes a poor prognosis in breast cancer.
EXAMPLE: BRAF; Activating mutations	EXAMPLE: Activating mutations	EXAMPLE: Oncogene	EXAMPLE: Common (melanoma)	EXAMPLE: T

Note: A more extensive list of mutations can be found in cBioportal, COSMIC, and/or other databases. When applicable, gene-specific pages within the CCGA site directly link to pertinent external content.

editv4:Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)

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Pathogenic mutations in CEBPA are predominantly insertion/deletion frameshift mutations in the N-terminal TAD region and in-frame C-terminal bZIP mutations. No particular mutational hotspots exist but the following table records the most reported mutations in the COSMIC database (frequency based on a count out of 1523 mutations):

Gene	Mutation	Oncogene/Tumor Suppressor/Other	Presumed Mechanism (LOF/GOF/Other; Driver/Passenger)	Prevalence (COSMIC/TCGA/Other)
CEBPA	c.939_940insAAG, p.K313_V314insK	Oncogene	LOF	52
CEBPA	c.68_69insC, p.H24fs*84	Oncogene	LOF	43
CEBPA	c.247delC, p.Q83fs*77	Oncogene	LOF	32
CEBPA	c.936_937insCAG, p.Q312_K313insQ	Oncogene	LOF	28
CEBPA	c.912_913insTTG, p.K304_Q305insL	Oncogene	LOF	24

Other Mutations

Concurrent mutations in NPM1 and FLT3 are seen less frequently in individuals with biallelic CEBPA mutations than in those with no or monoallelic mutations. Conversely, mutations in GATA2 appear to occur more often in CEBPA single- and double-mutants. The prognostic significance of these concomitant mutations is, however, unclear. Biallelic CEBPA mutations appear to confer a positive prognostic effect regardless of concomitant mutations.

Type	Gene/Region/Other
Concomitant Mutations	NPM1, FLT3, GATA2
Secondary Mutations	None
Mutually Exclusive	None

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Epigenomic Alterations

None

Genes and Main Pathways Involved

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Gene; Genetic Alteration	Pathway	Pathophysiologic Outcome
EXAMPLE: BRAF and MAP2K1; Activating mutations	EXAMPLE: MAPK signaling	EXAMPLE: Increased cell growth and proliferation
EXAMPLE: CDKN2A; Inactivating mutations	EXAMPLE: Cell cycle regulation	EXAMPLE: Unregulated cell division
EXAMPLE: KMT2C and ARID1A; Inactivating mutations	EXAMPLE: Histone modification, chromatin remodeling	EXAMPLE: Abnormal gene expression program

editv4:Genes and Main Pathways Involved

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CEBPA, located on chromosome 19 band q13.1, encodes a transcription factor of the basic region leucine zipper (bZIP) family. It is involved in the coordination of myeloid differentiation and cellular growth arrest. Alternative translation initiation sites result in protein isoforms of different lengths.

CEPBA works in a tissue-specific manner to direct cellular differentiation by activating lineage-specific gene promoters. Interactions with the basal transcriptional apparatus (TBP/TFIIB), histone acetylators (CBP/p300), and chromatin-remodelling complexes (SWI/SNF) have all been implicated in lineage-specific gene activation by CEBPA. In the haematopoietic system there appears to be interplay between CEBPA and GATA factors. CEBPA knockout mice show a complete lack of granulocytes while blasts accumulate in the bone marrow, suggesting an early block of myeloid maturation. In the context of haematopoietic differentiation, evidence suggests CEBPA plays a role in regulating the expression of genes encoding growth factor receptors (e.g. granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) and secondary granule proteins (e.g. lactoferrin). It has also been implicated, along with NFI-A, in mediating miR-223 expression. Studies indicate that CEBPA is not required for differentiation of granulocytes beyond the granulocyte-monocyte progenitor (GMP) stage, and that CEBPA controls stem-cell renewal with expression of Bmi-1 elevated in 'CEBPA knockouts. Proliferation arrest also appears to be an important aspect of CEBPA function via interaction with CDK2/CDK4, upregulation of the p21 (WAF-1/CIP-1/SDI-1) protein and the SWI/SNF complex, and inhibition of the E2F complex. This E2F inhibition leads to c-myc downregulation, which is required for granulocytic regulation. Mutations in the C-terminal region of CEBPA abrogate CEBPA-E2F complex function. The precise mechanism by which CEBPA mutants inhibit granulocytic differentiation in the context of AML is still unclear.

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Genetic Diagnostic Testing Methods

Sanger sequencing, Next Generation Sequencing

Familial Forms

Familial mutations of CEBPA have been described in several families. Typically, these are N-terminal mutations that are later joined by a somatic C-terminal mutation on the opposite allele leading to AML.

Additional Information

Put your text here

Links

CEBPA

References

(use the "Cite" icon at the top of the page) (Instructions: Add each reference into the text above by clicking where you want to insert the reference, selecting the “Cite” icon at the top of the wiki page, and using the “Automatic” tab option to search by PMID to select the reference to insert. If a PMID is not available, such as for a book, please use the “Cite” icon, select “Manual” and then “Basic Form”, and include the entire reference. To insert the same reference again later in the page, select the “Cite” icon and “Re-use” to find the reference; DO NOT insert the same reference twice using the “Automatic” tab as it will be treated as two separate references. The reference list in this section will be automatically generated and sorted.)

Notes

*Primary authors will typically be those that initially create and complete the content of a page.  If a subsequent user modifies the content and feels the effort put forth is of high enough significance to warrant listing in the authorship section, please contact the Associate Editor or other CCGA representative.  When pages have a major update, the new author will be acknowledged at the beginning of the page, and those who contributed previously will be acknowledged below as a prior author.

Prior Author(s):

Paul Defazio, MSc, Monash Health

*Citation of this Page: “Acute myeloid leukaemia with CEBPA mutation”. Compendium of Cancer Genome Aberrations (CCGA), Cancer Genomics Consortium (CGC), updated 04/15/2025, https://ccga.io/index.php/HAEM5:Acute_myeloid_leukaemia_with_CEBPA_mutation.