Fusion genes, hybrid genes formed from two previously independent genes, are implicated in a wide range of cancers — particularly myeloid cancers. Research has revealed the presence of fusion genes in ~41% of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and 29% of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cases1,2.
Traditional methods to detect fusion genes include fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). More recently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a key method for fusion gene identification and characterisation. This technique, unlike FISH, can simultaneously detect multiple fusion genes in a single assay. Furthermore, hybridisation-based NGS assays, such as the SureSeq™ Myeloid Fusion Panel, can identify novel fusion partners — providing more comprehensive and informative analyses than possible using PCR-driven methods.
SureSeq Myeloid Fusion Panel
Technical information
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The RNA-based SureSeq Myeloid Fusion Panel has been designed in collaboration with leading myeloid cancer experts and has been informed by the latest WHO guidance to include clinically relevant fusions in AML3. The panel further enables the identification of gene expression changes in MECOM, supporting the identification of GATA2-MECOM (inv(3)(q21.3q26.2) and RPN1-MECOM (inv(3)(q21q26).
Figure 1 shows the consistent and confident detection of MECOM overexpression in [A] serial dilutions of HNT-34 cell line as well as [B] research and commercial samples, including positive and negative controls. MECOM expression is normalised to the expression of housekeeping genes and expression values are calculated as counts per million (CPM). ‘Research (+)’ refers to research sample containing GATA2-MECOM (inv(3)(q21.3q26.2)). ‘Commercial (+)’ refers to Universal Human Reference RNA (UHRR) used as positive control. ‘Research (-)’ refers to blood extracted RNA with no GATA2-MECOM (inv(3) (q21.3q26.2)). ‘Commercial (-)’ refers to normal human lymphocyte RNA used as negative control. Error bars represent standard deviation.
Table 1: The SureSeq Myeloid Fusion Panel allows identification of 30 of the most clinically-relevant fusions implicated in AML. Specific gene targeting (bold text) allows accurate partner gene agnostic identification of fusion genes.
Figure 1a: Consistent and confident detection of MECOM overexpression in serial dilutions of HNT-34 cell line
Figure 1b: Consistent and confident detection of MECOM overexpression in research and commercial samples, including positive and negative controls
By targeting a single key fusion partner, driver genes with multiple partners (e.g. KMT2A) and novel or rare fusions can also be identified, supporting research into myeloid cancer classification and progression. This unique approach further serves to minimise the panel size, lowering sequencing costs and enabling increased depth of coverage for more sensitive results.
Figure 2: Interpret, OGT’s complementary analysis software, enables identification of ( [A], [B] ) canonical fusions such as KMT2A-AFDN (MLLT4) and KMT2A-MLLT3 as well as ( [C], [D] ) novel fusions such as KMT2A-MLLT10 and KMT2A-MLLT6 emphasising the partner gene agnostic capability for fusion detection.
The SureSeq Myeloid Fusion Complete NGS Workflow Solution V2 is an RNA-based assay, which allows sensitive and more cost-efficient identification of fusion genes than alternative DNA-based panel designs. Only transcriptionally expressed and therefore more clinically relevant gene fusions are analysed.
All SureSeq panels utilise hybridisation-based enrichment, which, when combined with OGT’s intelligent probe design, offers highly uniform coverage for sensitive and reliable results.
Two kit sizes are available, offering the facility to analyse either 24 or 96 samples, with multiplexing of up to 24 samples in a single MiSeq® sequencing run. The streamlined workflow, which utilises the industry-standard Universal NGS Workflow Solution, incorporates Unique Dual Indexes (UDI) prior to sample amplification to support accurate sample demultiplexing for highly robust and reliable results (Figure 3).
Figure 3: The fully optimised SureSeq Myeloid Fusion Complete NGS Workflow Solution V2 minimises hands-on time and provides all the reagents required to go from purified RNA to sequence-ready libraries.
Included as standard with all SureSeq panels, Interpret NGS Analysis Software, OGT’s powerful and easy-to-use NGS data analysis solution, delivers comprehensive identification of fusion genes, including novel fusions (Figure 4).
The software allows you to easily visualise fusion genes detected, focus in on breakpoints, the number of reads spanning each breakpoint and alignment of sequence reads at nucleotide resolution — for complete confidence in results. In addition, the software reports normalised gene expression levels related to MECOM rearrangements, plus all data files are available for further downstream analysis.
Figure 4: Interpret, OGT’s complementary analysis software, enables identification of canonical fusions such as BCR-ABL1 in K562 cell line.
The SureSeq Myeloid Fusion Panel has been designed to meet the exacting requirements of leading myeloid cancer specialists; however, at OGT, we understand that you may wish to incorporate additional gene content to further interrogate gene fusions and regions of particular interest to your work and sample sets. For this reason, we offer the facility to create your own SureSeq myPanel™ assay. You can start this process online using our custom NGS cancer panel builder.
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