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Review

Targeting TET2 as a Therapeutic Approach for Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma

by
Lina Hu
1,2,†,
Xuanye Zhang
1,3,†,
Huifeng Li
1,2,
Suxia Lin
1,2 and
Shengbing Zang
1,2,*
1
Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China
2
Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
3
Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Cancers 2022, 14(22), 5699; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14225699
Submission received: 25 October 2022 / Revised: 18 November 2022 / Accepted: 19 November 2022 / Published: 20 November 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cancer Therapeutics)
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

:

Simple Summary

Recent advances in exome sequencing and comprehensive genomic studies have shed new light on the pathogenesis and mutational landscape of Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). The essential pathogenic role of recurrent TET2, DNMT3A, IDH2, and RHOA mutations in AITL has been identified. Notably, the detection of TET2 mutations in bystander B cells in AITL samples has allowed new mechanistic advances in AITL combined with B-cell lymphoma. In this review, we highlight the current role of TET2 mutations in the pathogenesis of AITL and how mutational crosstalk in TET2 and other partner genes (RHOA, DNMT3A, and IDH2) cooperate to contribute to the disease. In addition, we elaborate on recent advances in AITL frequently comprising B-cell lymphoma and discuss the potential prospects of targeting TET2 as an anti-AITL agent.

Abstract

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), a type of malignant lymphoma with unique genomic aberrations, significant clinicopathological features, and poor prognosis, is characterized by immune system dysregulation. Recent sequencing studies have identified recurrent mutations and interactions in tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2), ras homology family member A (RHOA), DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A), and mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase II (IDH2). Notably, since B-cell lymphomas are frequently observed along with AITL, this review first summarizes its controversial mechanisms based on traditional and recent views. Epigenetic regulation represented by TET2 plays an increasingly important role in understanding the multi-step and multi-lineage tumorigenesis of AITL, providing new research directions and treatment strategies for patients with AITL. Here, we review the latest advances in our understanding of AITL and highlight relevant issues that have yet to be addressed in clinical practice.

1. Introduction

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a malignant hematologic tumor derived from T follicular helper (TFH) cells. AITL is among the most aggressive of non-Hodgkin lymphomas with a poor prognosis [1]. Only a small proportion of AITLs are detected at an early stage, which is amenable to the current treatment. Nonetheless, AITLs are mostly diagnosed at an advanced stage, and patients with advanced AITLs show a limited response to intensified chemotherapy along with high relapse rates, mainly due to a lack of effective targeted therapies. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of AITL will provide a mechanistic basis for the design of effective therapeutic regimens.
Recent exome sequencing and comprehensive genomic studies of AITL samples have led to the discovery of frequent mutations in three genes (TET2, DNMT3A, and IDH2) that are directly or indirectly involved in the regulation of DNA methylation or hydroxymethylation [2,3,4]. Mutations in TET2, which is a member of the ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent dioxygenases, were more frequent than the other mutations. Moreover, TET2 mutations frequently coexist with RHOA or DNMT3A in AITL [5,6,7]. Loss of TET2 function leads to the defect in successively oxidizing 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) in the mammalian genome [4]. Thus, TET2 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AITL through active cytosine demethylation.
In this review, we focus on exploring the current role of TET2 mutations in the pathogenesis of AITL and how mutations in TET2 as well as other genes (RHOA, DNMT3A, and IDH2) cooperatively contribute to disease pathogenesis. Recently, TET2 mutations have been detected in the AITL tumor clones of bystander B cells in AITL samples [8,9,10]. Therefore, it is likely that genetic lesions of TET2 are critical in the co-occurrence of T and B-cell lymphomas in the same patient. Here, we elaborate a summary of TET2 mutations in the frequent co-occurrence of AITL and B-cell lymphomas (e.g., diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and classic Hodgkin lymphoma) and discuss the potential of targeting TET2 as an anti-AITL agent.

2. AITL and Other Lymphomas with a TFH-Cell Phenotype

According to a review of the upcoming fifth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumors update on mature T-and natural killer (NK) cell neoplasms, AITL and other lymphomas with a TFH-cell phenotype have been regarded as entities in the family of nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphomas (nTFHLs) [11]. This family includes three entities of nodal T-cell lymphomas that arise from TFH cells, which are defined by the expression of at least two (ideally three) TFH markers: CD10, BCL-6, PD1, CXCL13, and ICOS. Diseases previously referred to as “angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma” “follicular T-cell lymphoma” and “peripheral T-cell lymphoma with TFH phenotype” have been renamed as nTFHL angioimmunoblastic-type (nTFHL-AI), nTFHL follicular-type (nTFHL-F) and nTFHL not otherwise specified (nTFHL-NOS), respectively. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas with a TFH-cell phenotype were excluded.
The prototype of these lymphomas is nTFHL-AI (referred to as AITL in this paper), which has distinct clinical and histological features. AITL is typically manifested by lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, polyclonal hyperglobulinemia, and systemic symptoms. Skin rashes are frequently observed, as is pruritus. Other common findings are pleural effusion, arthritis, and ascites [12,13]. The histology of AITL is very unique: (1) AITL tumor cells which are small to medium in size typically have abundant pale cytoplasms with round and slightly irregular nuclei; (2) AITL tumor cells show the cell-of-origin of TFH cells with expression of five TFHcell-associated genes (CD10, BCL-6, PD1, CXCL13, and ICOS) in most cases. (3) A polymorphous inflammatory background that contains variable numbers of reactive lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils; (4) Arborization of high endothelial venules (HEVs) and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are very prominent; (5) Variable numbers of B immunoblasts are usually present in the paracortex and may be positive or negative for EBV. More recently, studies based on next-generation sequencing have determined frequent mutations in genes encoding epigenetic modifiers, such as TET2, DNMT3A, and IDH2, as well as the small GTPase RHOA. Among these, IDH2 R172 mutation apparently has specificity for AITL [2,7,8], while others are visible in other peripheral T-cell lymphomas, particularly those with a TFH-cell phenotype. This suggests a consistent oncogenic course in these related types of lymphomas.
nTFHL follicular-type (nTFHL-F) is a rare subtype of nTFHLs, with a predominantly follicular growth pattern that distinguish from AITL in the histological features [10]. Patients with nTFHL-F resemble AITL, characterized by lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, systemic symptoms, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, and autoimmune manifestations. nTFHL-F and AITL have very similar genetic profiles with mutations in TET2, DNMT3A, and IDH2, as well as the small GTPase RHOA [14,15]; however, nTFHL-F has specific genetic alterations due to the translocation t (5;9) (q32; q22) leading to ITK-SYK fusion, which is rarely seen in AITL [16,17].
nTFHL-NOS, previously classified as peripheral T-cell lymphomas, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), is now included in the family of nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphomas. This lymphoma lacks the characteristic histological features (e.g., inflammatory infiltration, vascular hyperplasia, or dilation of follicular dendritic cell meshwork) of AITL but presents with a TFH-cell phenotype and genetic abnormalities similar to AITL.

3. The Highly Recurrent TET2 Mutation in AITL

TET proteins were named due to the rare “ten-eleven translocation” and included TET1, TET2, and TET3 [4]. TET1 and TET3 are virtually mutation-free in hematological malignancies. However, the gene located in the 4q24 region of human chromosome 4, which encodes TET2, frequently undergoes microdeletions and copy number-neutral loss-of-heterozygosity in various hematological malignancies [4,18]. Most missense mutations in TET2 impair enzyme activity and induce aberrant DNA methylation [4,18].
More recently, TET2 mutations have been frequently observed in T-cell lymphomas, particularly in AITL and other lymphomas with a TFH-cell phenotype. Table 1 summarizes the studies that have included TFH cell lymphoma and PTCL-NOS. The techniques used for the detection of TET2 mutations are listed in Table 1. According to previous studies, TET2 mutations have been detected in 47–100% of AITL cases [8,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27]. Among patients with TET2 mutations, over 57% harbored two or more mutations. Mutations in TET2 were identified through the entire coding region, while most of them were insertions/deletions generating frameshift and nonsense mutations. Only one study assessed TET2 mutations in nTFHL-F, with a mutation rate of 75% [10]. Up to 58–73% of nTFHL-NOS had TET2 mutations [10,18,20]. The mutation rate of TET2 in PTCL-NOS ranged from 14.6% to 38% [10,18,20]. In conclusion, TET2 has the highest mutation rate in AITL (up to 100%), which is more common than that in other tumors.
In AITL, TET2 mutations are associated with advanced-stage disease [18,22], thrombocytopenia [18], high International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores [18,28], an increased number of involved extranodal sites [18], the presence of B symptoms [22], and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels [22]. Elevated LDH levels and positive B symptoms are considered indicators of tumor load and play an overwhelming role in tumor maintenance [29], thereby suggesting that TET2 mutations can lead to increased tumor burden.
Whether TET2 mutations affect the prognosis of AITL patients is unclear. Two studies have shown that TET2 mutations are correlated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS) [6,18], whereas another study found no significant difference in OS or PFS when compared between the group of wild-type TET2 and the mutant group; the only individual mutation that significantly reduced survival was IDH2 [22]. TET2 and IDH2 co-occurrence possessed better PFS than TET2 mutations alone, which also demonstrated the emphasis on epigenetic modifications [22]. In conclusion, the prognostic value of TET2 mutations in AITL remains controversial and is still being explored.

4. Crosstalk between TET2 and Other Genes in AITL

4.1. Interaction between TET2 and RHOA Mutations

Ras homology family member A (RHOA) functions as a small GTPase, which is activated by a specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), to promote the exchange of GTP and GDP [33,34]. Missense mutations in the pG17V substitution encoding the RHOA GTPase were detected in 50–70% of AITL patients [6,7,35,36]. As a result, RHOA G17V loses its GTP-binding activity to inhibit RHO signaling by isolating the GEF protein [6,7,37]. Thus, RHOA mutants promote the development of PTCL by dominantly and negatively inhibiting the binding of wild-type RHOA protein to GTP [6,7]. Notably, the RHOA mutation is specific to T-cell lymphoma and absent in B-cell lymphoma [37].
VAV1 (Vav Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 1) has been characterized as a G17V RHOA-specific binding companion [38]. This protein not only acts as a GEF (Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor) to activate small GTPases in the T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathway but also acts as an adapter to promote the formation or function of the TCR signaling complex [38,39]. The G17V RHOA-VAV1 axis activated in AITL accelerates TCR signal transduction by enhancing phosphorylation at 174Tyr [38,40]. Genes with the highest mutation frequency in the TCR signaling pathway include PLCG1, CD28, PIK3, GTF2I, and CTNNB1 [35], which are related to cell activation and TFH-derived lymphoma [35]. In addition, RHOA G17V expression in CD4+ T cells promotes Tfh lineage specification and AITL transformation through a mechanism dependent on the ICOS-PI3K-mTOR signaling pathway [40,41]. The blocking of the ICOS-PI3K-mTOR signaling pathway provides an innovative and possible strategy for targeting RHOA G17V therapy for AITL. As a costimulatory molecule and migration receptor for Tfh cells, ICOS co-receptor signaling phosphorylates transcription factor FOXO1 (forkhead box O1) and decreases nuclear transcription factor KIF2 [42,43], which is essential for driving Tfh lineage differentiation and maintaining the Tfh phenotype. Therefore, RHOA G17V induces Tfh lineage differentiation and drives AITL transformation by accelerating TCR signal transduction and enhancing the ICOS-PI3K signaling pathway.
Notably, TET2 mutation and RHOA G17V have a synergistic effect on human AITL pathogenesis, with co-mutations of TET2 and RHOA observed in 60–70% of AITL cases [6,7,36], leading to AITL-like disease with high penetrance [41,43,44]. In multiple mouse models reported, Tet2 loss and RHOA G17V expression jointly led to AITL, which supports a multi-step model of AITL development (Figure 1) [41,43,44,45]. TET2 deletion with RHOA G17V expression can lead to abnormal activation of CD4+ T cells and the imbalance of T cell homeostasis in the peripheral blood, which results in a reduction of Treg cells and an increase of Tfh cells [43]. In addition, the loss of function of RHOA and TET2 together interfere with FOXO1 function, which is manifested by inhibiting FOXO1 transcription and promoting its phosphorylation, thereby inducing the differentiation of Tfh cells and greatly reducing the need for ICOS signal transduction [42,43]. In most cases, RHOA mutations are specifically identified only in tumor cells, whereas TET2 mutations are found in both tumor and non-tumor hematopoietic cells [44]. The allele frequencies of TET2 were distinctly higher when compared to the frequencies of RHOA and IDH2. DNMT3A and TET2 mutations have a large degree of overlap and similar allele burden, whereas RHOA and IDH2 mutations share similar allele frequencies [7]. This indicates that TET2 and/or DNMT3A mutations precede RHOA and/or IDH2 mutations in the majority of cases [7], while RHOA G17V is the secondary strike of AITL pathogenic mechanism relay TET2 in early hematopoietic progenitor cell mutation.

4.2. Interaction between TET2 and DNMT3A Mutation

In AITL, DNMT3A mutations occur at a frequency of 20–38.5% [6,7,24,30]. The majority of DNMT3A mutations are concentrated in the MTase-binding domain, which can lead to loss-of-function. Notably, Arg-882 (R882), located in the MTase binding domain, was the most common mutation site [24]. DNMT3A deficiency progressively impairs hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) differentiation while amplifying the number of HSCs in the bone marrow [46], thereby, making hematopoietic stem cells prone to malignant transformation [47].
DNMT3A is a de novo DNA methyltransferase that mediates DNA methylation [48], whereas the TET protein family can oxidize 5-methylcytosine (5-mc) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmc) [49] during DNA demethylation. Thus, the interaction between TET2 and DNMT3A co-regulates the addition or removal of DNA methyl groups [48,49]. The DNMT3A R882H mutant combined with TET2 inactivation plays a role in DNA methylation dysregulation and induces malignant tumors in the mouse lymphatic system [5].
Interestingly, TET2 and DNMT3A mutations co-occur significantly, particularly in AITL [3,5,6,7,30]. DNMT3A and TET2 mutations have a large degree of overlap and similar allele burden. These mutations have been found not only in tumor cells from patients with T-cell lymphoma [3,4,5,8,30,48,50] but also in multiple lineages of normal bone marrow and blood cells [3,4,7,51,52], including B cells, myeloid cells, and myeloid progenitor cells [7,8], whereas RHOA and IDH2 mutations are confined only to tumor cells [7,8]. These data provide further confirmation of the hypothesis that TET2 and DNMT3A mutations may exist in precancerous cells.

4.3. Interaction between TET2 and IDH2 Mutations

Mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase II (IDH2) is an NADP+-dependent enzyme that is critical for cell proliferation and catalyzes the conversion of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate (αKG) in the mitochondria [53]. However, the IDH2 R172 mutant lacks this ability and catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of αKG to R(−)-2-hydroxyglutarate(2HG) [53,54,55], contributing to the malignant transformation [54,55]. Since 2HG is a structural analog of αKG, mutant IDH-induced increases in 2HG levels may interfere with the normal cycle of DNA methylation and demethylation by inhibiting the activity of α-KG-dependent dioxygenases, such as TET family proteins [55,56]. IDH2 R172 mutant-mediated DNA hypermethylation inhibits T-cell receptor signal transduction and T-cell differentiation, thereby supporting the idea that 2HG produced by the mutant enzyme is responsible for driving tumorigenesis and progression [24,57].
In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the IDH1/2 and TET2 mutations repel each other. IDH1/2 mutations mediate hypermethylation and suppress TET2-mediated demethylation, impelling myeloid differentiation [55]. IDH2 mutations are seemingly specific events in AITL, with a mutation frequency of 20–45% [2,7,8,24,30,58], most of which coexist with TET2 mutations [7,24,30,58]. It is interesting to note that the IDH2 mutation in AITL is hypothesized to constitute a second strike and may refine the differentiation of precancerous clones [7,19]. Cases with IDH2 and TET2 double mutations showed the upregulation of TFH-related genes (IL21 and ICOS) and an increased TFH cell-like phenotype, thereby defining a distinct subgroup of AITL with unique follicular T helper gene expression signatures [24].
Therefore, IDH2 R172 mutations can not only affect epigenetic regulation by competitively inhibiting TET2 demethylation but also enhance the expression profile of TFH and promote AITL development.

5. Role of TET2 Mutations in B-Cell Lymphoma Observed in AITL

In clinical practice, the incidence of B-cell lymphoma in the setting of AITL is as high as 10% [59,60,61,62]. However, the reason for this unique-recurring, frequent concomitant appearance of B- and T-cell lymphomas is not known.

5.1. Traditional View: AITL Precedes B-Cell Lymphoma

B-cell lymphoma has traditionally been regarded as a follow-up to AITL, as indicated by this model (Figure 2). Latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a common feature of sporadic non-neoplastic bystander B cells, showing that B-cells are usually positive for EBV-coding RNA in 66–97% of companion/secondary B-cell lymphomas [10,59,60,61,62,63]. EBV has a significant effect on B cell differentiation, leading to the survival and clonal expansion of Ig-less B cells, and promoting the progression of B-cell lymphoma [59,60,62,64]. Zhou et al. suggested that the reduction in antiviral immune surveillance in AITL may be conducive to the proliferation of potential EBV-infected B lymphocytes and the subsequent progression of EBV+ B cell malignancies [59]. Furthermore, the B cell-stimulating properties of TFH tumor cells may promote B cell expansion [9,65]. Although EBV infection may contribute to the oncogenic mechanism of EBV-positive B-cell lymphoma, a considerable proportion of patients with B-cell lymphoma are EBV-negative [60,66,67], suggesting that other factors besides EBV may be responsible for the occurrence of B-cell lymphoma.

5.2. Recent View: AITL Occurs Concurrently with B Cell Lymphoma

TET2 mutations represent early genetic lesions that occur in upstream hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPC) and have been detected in both tumor tissue and normal blood cells of patients with AITL [3,4,7,30]. Between 10% and 60% of polyclonal B cells in AITL lymph nodes carry the same TET2 mutation in their corresponding T-cell lymphoma clones [9]. Furthermore, premalignant cells with TET2 mutations may differentiate into not only T-lineage tumor cells but also B cells [8,9]. Single-cell analysis revealed that 7–66% of B cells were derived from the differentiation of TET2-mutated HSC rather than through clonal expansion of a minority of B cells with TET2 mutations [9,64]. Notably, all NOTCH1 mutations in B-cell lymphomas secondary to AITL were detected only in B cells, whereas RHOA G17V mutations were specific to all tumor T cells [8], showing that NOTCH1 mutation and RHOA G17V mutation play a role in B-cell lymphoma and AITL, respectively, and both are secondary mutations following TET2 mutation. Consequently, AITL with B-cell lymphoma is a multistep alteration, with AITL and B-cell lymphoma occurring in the T-cell zone and germinal center, following the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells carrying the TET2 mutation into premalignant T-cell and B-cell lineages, respectively.
Taken together, these studies suggest that clonal hematopoietic cells carrying the TET2 mutation may acquire the NOTCH1 mutation when they differentiate into B cells, which may subsequently enhance the effects of the TET2 mutation. The co-occurrence of AITL and B-cell lymphoma was mediated by B cells harboring TET2 and NOTCH1 mutations, and Tfh cells carrying TET2 and RHOA mutations, as indicated by the model outlined in Figure 3.

6. New Drugs Targeting TET2 for Treatment of AITL

Most peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) have a high degree of malignancy, rapid disease progression, poor clinical prognosis, low remission rates, and high recurrence rates after first-line treatment. Despite several novel drugs currently being investigated [68], there has been little improvement in the prognosis of AITL patients over the past 20 years [69]. According to the 2022 NCCN guidelines, anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens [e.g., CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone), CHOP + etoposide (CHOEP), or dose-adjusted EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin)] are the most commonly used first-line therapy regimens, although with a high failure rate and frequent relapse in PTCL. Additionally, epigenetic drugs have been applied in clinical trials (Table 2) and recommended as second-line therapy by NCCN clinical practice guidelines [70], providing new research directions to promote promising clinical outcomes as a focus of research in PTCL [71].

6.1. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (HDACis)

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) is an enzyme engaged in chromatin remodeling and regulates the epigenetics of gene expression [82]. HDAC inhibitors, such as romidepsin and belinostat, have previously been demonstrated to induce acetylation of histones and other proteins [83,84], producing antitumor activity by inhibiting gene transcription, regulating cell cycle, and increasing tumor cell apoptosis [83,85].
A pivotal, open-label phase II clinical trial of romidepsin for relapsed or refractory PTCL involving 130 patients with an objective response rate (ORR) of 25% and a complete response/unconfirmed complete response rate (CR/CRu) of 15% demonstrated that single-agent romidepsin induced complete and durable responses with manageable toxicity [72]. These results contributed to the FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration) approval of romidepsin in June 2011. Since then, several pivotal multicenter phase II studies have shown the activity of HDAC inhibitors as monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL (ALCL, ALK-negative, PCTL-NOS, and AITL) [73,74]. The combination of romidepsin and conventional CHOP chemotherapy did not seem to have the desired effect. A non-randomized phase 1b/2 study of 37 previously untreated patients with PTCL showed that the combination of romidepsin was more toxic than expected with CHOP alone (panel) [77]. Another homogeneous phase 3 combination trial involving 421 previously untreated PTCL patients also showed that the combination did not improve OS, PFS, or response rates, but instead increased the frequency of grade ≥3 therapeutic adverse events [79]. In contrast, the combination of romidepsin, duvelisib (a PI3K-δ,γ Inhibitor), and 5-azacytidine showed good efficacy in clinical trials of T-cell lymphoma, with the highest ORR and CR of 61% and 48%, respectively [41,78,80].
Chidamide is a novel selective HDAC inhibitor characterized by a unique mechanism of action. Two chidamide monotherapies and two combination therapies were administered in PTCL [75,76,81]. Among them, combination therapy has shown more promising results than monotherapy. The ORR and CR of chidamide combined with 5-azacytidine were 68.8% and 31.2%, respectively, which had the best results. Panobinostat is a potent oral pan-deacetylase inhibitor as well. In a clinical trial, the combination of panobinostat and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib was shown to be effective in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma [76].

6.2. Hypomethylating Agents (HMAs)

Hypomethylating agents (HMAs), for instance 5-azacytidine (Aza) and decitabine, can balance the hypermethylated state of DNA induced by mutations in epigenetic regulators such as TET2, DNMT3A, and IDH2. HMAs have been authorized for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in many countries, and MDS patients with TET2 mutations show an increased response rate to HMAs [86].
One study showed that TET2 mutations are associated with a better response to azacytidine and revealed that the TET2 gene is the strongest biomarker of clinical response [87]. Since TET2 mutations are occurring more frequently in AITL than in MDS, the therapeutic effect of Aza was expected to be more in the case of AITL. In a retrospective study, Aza et al. showed promising results, where out of the 12 AITL patients with TET2 mutations, nine responded to Aza, including six complete responses (CRs) and three partial responses (PRs), resulting in an ORR of 75% [31]. Two case reports showed complete remission in AITL patients with TET2 mutations after the administration of Aza [28,88], suggesting that targeting aberrant DNA methylation in AITL may be as a potential strategy to alternate previous chemotherapy regimens. Furthermore, in a phase I clinical trial investigating the efficacy of Aza combined with romidepsin in 33 patients with PTCL, 10 (32%) obtained an objective response, and seven (23%) achieved a complete response. These results indicate that the combination of epigenetic modification drugs exhibits promising therapeutic activity in patients with PTCL [89].
Decitabine (5-aza-2’deoxycytidine) is a more effective methyltransferase inhibitor than 5-azacytidine (Aza), and its combination with HDAC inhibitors has a synergistic effect on reactivating gene expression [90]. Decitabine has been demonstrated to have potent antineoplastic activity in anaplastic cell lymphoma (ALCL) and MDS [91,92]. A study showed that the combination of the PARPi niraparib (Npb), HDACi romidepsin (Rom), and HMA decitabine (DAC) or panobinostat (Pano) was synergistically cytotoxic to leukemia and lymphoma cells and inhibited cell proliferation by up to 70% through activating the ATM pathway [93]. To date, no study has combined AITL therapy with decitabine.

6.3. Preclinical Trials of TET2 Targeting Agents

DNA methylation changes resulting from the silencing or activation of genes by TET2 mutations play a key role in AITL pathogenesis. At present, there are no clinically approved drugs capable of reactivating TET function; however, many preclinical trials have been conducted on TET2-related drugs (Table 3), thereby representing potential therapeutic opportunities.

6.3.1. TET Enzyme Inhibitors

Recently, novel cytosine-based TETase suppressors have been identified. A promising cytosine-based lead compound, Bobcat339, reduced the abundance of DNA 5hmC by inhibiting TETase activity in cells [94]. Furthermore, a TET-selective small-molecule inhibitor (TETi76) was effective in limiting the clonal growth of TET2 mutants and reduced cellular hydroxymethylation both in vitro and in vivo [93]. However, the limitations of these TET2 inhibitors restrict their clinical application. Bobcat339 has not been tested in animal models and clinical trials, and its effects and toxicities among humans are unknown. Furthermore, while TETi76 decreases cytosine hydroxymethylation levels and limits clonal growth of TET2 mutant cells in vitro and in vivo, a potential drawback of TETi is that it may replicate the TET2 mutation and drive the malignant transformation of normal hematopoietic cells. More validation and discussion are needed for their future application.

6.3.2. TET Enzyme Cofactors

Recent studies on embryonic stem cells have shown that ascorbic acid (AA)/Vitamin C is a cofactor for TET. Ascorbic acid is capable of binding to the catalytic domain of TET to promote the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine and DNA demethylation [96,103,104,105]. AA can exert beneficial anti-proliferative effects on AML cells carrying co-existing TET2 and TP53 mutations without interfering with targeted cytotoxic therapies [97]. Additionally, the combination of AA and a class I/II histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACis) can prevent TET2 mutant myeloid neoplasia (MN), thereby providing a preclinical theoretical basis for further research [98]. Furthermore, AA can combine with 5-AZA to further upregulate methylated genes and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) [99]. In addition, vitamin C also promotes decitabine- or azacitidine-induced DNA hydroxymethylation and reactivation of the tumor suppressor CDKN1A [100]. The dual use of AA and vitamin C may improve the response to epigenetic therapy.
The limited early studies suggest that AA levels may vary in different tumor patients, suggesting the need to clarify who to administer, the route of administration, and the dose. Therefore, prospective studies are urgently required to elucidate the incidence of AA deficiency according to tumor type and stage, and whether blood levels of AA correlate with the methylation landscape of tumors to maximize patient benefit.

6.3.3. Other Possibilities

Transcriptomic profiling showed that a four antibiotic cocktail therapy inhibited the differentiation and proliferation of TET2-loss myeloid and lymphoid tumor cells in vivo by mediating genetic alterations in the TNF-α signaling pathway [101]. However, how TNF-α signaling is activated and how antibiotic treatment inhibits pathways associated with TNF remain unresolved. Ginkgo biloba extract can also inhibit cell expansion and invasion by increasing TET2 expression in colorectal cancer cells through miR-29a [102]. These findings suggest that new molecular biology tools will provide effective insights into the field of epigenetics and that TET inhibitors may prove to be promising targeted drugs in TET2 mutational tumorigenesis.

7. Conclusions

In this review, we have summarized the synergistic effects of TET2 mutations and additional genes (RHOA, DNMT3A, and IDH2) in the pathogenesis of AITL. Evidence of “multi-step”and“multi-lineage” genetic events in AITL can provide insights and ideas for the origin and occurrence of this unique subtype of T-cell lymphoma. Identification of novel therapeutic vulnerabilities has induced a significant shift in the clinical management of AITL. The success of epigenetic drugs for AITL, particularly HDAC inhibitors and hypomethylation drugs, offers new hope for patients with refractory AITL. Continued progress in preclinical experiments based on cell lines and animal models will help improve the survival rate of patients with TET2 mutant malignant tumors. Furthermore, challenges and opportunities coexist, and many opportunities for improvement remain, including the identification of biomarkers for targeted treatment response, the description of drug resistance mechanisms, and the development of successful AITL combination therapies.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, S.Z.; validation, L.H. and X.Z.; data curation, L.H. and H.L.; writing—original draft preparation, L.H.; writing—review and editing, S.Z. and L.H.; supervision, S.Z. and S.L.; project administration, S.Z.; funding acquisition, S.Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 2019A1515011354).

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the many colleagues and trainees who have contributed to the study of AITL.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Interaction between TET2 and RHOA mutations. TET2 loss increases HSPCs self-renewal and proliferation. Cooperativity between TET2 loss and RHOA G17V in T cell lineage suppresses the CD8+ T cell differentiation and endows the naïve CD4+ T cells with a competitive advantage, skews cells differentiation toward Tfh cells, and induces abnormal Tfh cell activation and transformation. ICOS exerts its costimulatory function via the ICOS-PI3K-mTOR signaling pathway, which is essential in driving Tfh lineage differentiation and maintaining the Tfh phenotype. In addition, ICOS activates AKT via PI3K. By phosphorylating the transcription factor FOXO1, AKT reduces the transcription factor KIF2, leading to a significant increase in the number of Tfh cells. Both of these pathways play an essential role in promoting Tfh lineage specification and AITL transformation. HSC, hematopoietic stem cells; MPP, multipotent blood progenitors; CLP, common lymphoid progenitors; CMP, common myeloid progenitors; Treg, regulatory T cell; Th1, T helper 1 cell; Th2, T helper 2 cell; Th17, T helper 17 cell; Tfh cell, follicular helper T cell; DC, dendritic cell; MHC/Ag, antigen presented on major histocompatibility complex; TCR, T-cell receptor; ICOS, inducible T-cell co-stimulator; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase; AKT, protein kinase B; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; FOXO1, forkhead box O1; AITL, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Figure 1. Interaction between TET2 and RHOA mutations. TET2 loss increases HSPCs self-renewal and proliferation. Cooperativity between TET2 loss and RHOA G17V in T cell lineage suppresses the CD8+ T cell differentiation and endows the naïve CD4+ T cells with a competitive advantage, skews cells differentiation toward Tfh cells, and induces abnormal Tfh cell activation and transformation. ICOS exerts its costimulatory function via the ICOS-PI3K-mTOR signaling pathway, which is essential in driving Tfh lineage differentiation and maintaining the Tfh phenotype. In addition, ICOS activates AKT via PI3K. By phosphorylating the transcription factor FOXO1, AKT reduces the transcription factor KIF2, leading to a significant increase in the number of Tfh cells. Both of these pathways play an essential role in promoting Tfh lineage specification and AITL transformation. HSC, hematopoietic stem cells; MPP, multipotent blood progenitors; CLP, common lymphoid progenitors; CMP, common myeloid progenitors; Treg, regulatory T cell; Th1, T helper 1 cell; Th2, T helper 2 cell; Th17, T helper 17 cell; Tfh cell, follicular helper T cell; DC, dendritic cell; MHC/Ag, antigen presented on major histocompatibility complex; TCR, T-cell receptor; ICOS, inducible T-cell co-stimulator; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase; AKT, protein kinase B; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; FOXO1, forkhead box O1; AITL, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
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Figure 2. Traditional view: AITL precedes B-cell lymphoma. Early and subsequent oncogenic events, such as TET2 loss and the acquisition of RHOA G17V synergize to induce the cause of AITL. On this basis, EBV infection of sporadic non-neoplastic bystander B cells has a significant impact on the differentiation of B cells, allowing its survival and clonal expansion, and promoting the occurrence of B cell lymphoma. HSC, hematopoietic stem cells; HEV, high endothelial venule; FDC, follicular dendritic cell; EBV, Epstein-Barr virus.
Figure 2. Traditional view: AITL precedes B-cell lymphoma. Early and subsequent oncogenic events, such as TET2 loss and the acquisition of RHOA G17V synergize to induce the cause of AITL. On this basis, EBV infection of sporadic non-neoplastic bystander B cells has a significant impact on the differentiation of B cells, allowing its survival and clonal expansion, and promoting the occurrence of B cell lymphoma. HSC, hematopoietic stem cells; HEV, high endothelial venule; FDC, follicular dendritic cell; EBV, Epstein-Barr virus.
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Figure 3. Schematic model of co-occurrence of AITL and B cell lymphoma. This multistep and multilineage model shows that TET2/DNMT3A mutation in HSCs will be an initiating event in the process of transformation, inducing the generation of multipotent premalignant T and B cell lines. In the T cell zone, naive CD4+ T cells contact with myeloid DC cells and migrate to the T-B border, activating B cells. Upon acquisition of the second hit in RHOA/IDH2 mutation, Tfh cells will be abnormally activated and proliferate, eventually inducing the development of AITL. B cells that already carry the Tet2/DNMT3A mutation are derived from activated B cells. Correspondingly, subsequent acquisition of NOTCH1 mutation/EBV infection in B cells may lead to the transformation of B cell lymphoma. Eventually, AITL and B Cell lymphoma develop simultaneously. HSC, hematopoietic stem cells; mDC, myeloid dendritic cell; MHC/Ag, antigen presented on major histocompatibility complex; TCR, T-cell receptor; ICOS, inducible T-cell co-stimulator; ICOS-L, ICOS ligand; AITL, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Figure 3. Schematic model of co-occurrence of AITL and B cell lymphoma. This multistep and multilineage model shows that TET2/DNMT3A mutation in HSCs will be an initiating event in the process of transformation, inducing the generation of multipotent premalignant T and B cell lines. In the T cell zone, naive CD4+ T cells contact with myeloid DC cells and migrate to the T-B border, activating B cells. Upon acquisition of the second hit in RHOA/IDH2 mutation, Tfh cells will be abnormally activated and proliferate, eventually inducing the development of AITL. B cells that already carry the Tet2/DNMT3A mutation are derived from activated B cells. Correspondingly, subsequent acquisition of NOTCH1 mutation/EBV infection in B cells may lead to the transformation of B cell lymphoma. Eventually, AITL and B Cell lymphoma develop simultaneously. HSC, hematopoietic stem cells; mDC, myeloid dendritic cell; MHC/Ag, antigen presented on major histocompatibility complex; TCR, T-cell receptor; ICOS, inducible T-cell co-stimulator; ICOS-L, ICOS ligand; AITL, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
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Table
Table 1. Frequencies of TET2 mutation in AITL.
Table 1. Frequencies of TET2 mutation in AITL.
DiagnosisExperiment TypeAITL
Cases		Mutation CasesMutation RateMutation SitesMutation Type (Rate)Amino Acid ChangeMult-Mutation RateReference
AITL& PTCL-NOSMicroarray 3010AITL: 33.3%;
PTCL-NOS: 20%		NANANANACyril Quivoron [4]
et al. (2011)
AITL& PTCL-NOSdirect sequencing8640AITL: 47%;
PTCL-NOS: 38%		NANANANALemonnier [18]
et al. (2012)
AITLNGS856576%115Missense: 20/115 (17%);
Nonsense: 38/115 (33%);
Splice site: 3/115 (3%);
Frameshift: 54/115 (47%);		p.Q673*, p.Q727*, p.Q765*, p.R1486*, p.Y1148*43/65 (66%)Odejide [30]
et al. (2014)
AITL& PTCL-NOSTargeted resequencing4638AITL: 82.6%;
PTCL-NOS: 48.5%		70Frameshift: 29/70 (42%);
Missense: 19/70 (27%);
Nonframeshift: 1/70 (1%);
Nonsense: 16/70 (23%);
Splice site: 5/70 (7%)		p.E1318 splice; 28/38 (74%)Sakata-Yanagimoto [7] et al. (2014)
AITL& PTCL-NOSTargeted resequencing3932AITL: 82.1%;
PTCL-NOS: 46.3%		48NANA13/32 (41%)Wang [24] et al. (2015)
AITLWES99100%15frameshift or nonsense
changes: 14/15 (93%)		NA6/9 (67%)Wang [19] et al. (2017)
AITLSanger131292%15premature stop codons
or deletions:11/15 (73%);replacement:4/15 (27%)		NANASchwartz [9]
et al. (2017)
AITL& Nodal PTCL with
TFH phenotype& PTCL-NOS		Targeted resequencing4836AITL:75%;
Nodal PTCL with
TFH phenotype:100%
PTCL-NOS: 55.9%		NANANANAT B Nguyen [8]
et al. (2017)
AITL& PTCL-NOS
& PTCL-TFH&FTCL		NA6431AITL: 48%;
PTCL-NOS:17%
PTCL-TFH: 64%
FTCL:75%		NANANANADobay [10] et al. (2017)
AITLTargeted resequencing1212100%17NANA7/12 (58%)Lemonnier [31]
et al. (2018)
AITL& PTCL-NOSTargeted Exon Sequencing135AITL:38%;
PTCL-NOS:31%		65NAR126C, G1869W(2/13); N202K; D302Y; Y620; A893T; W1291;NAFernandez-Pol [32]
et al. (2019)
AITLNGS443886%60NANA23/38 (61%)Julia Steinhilber [26]
et al. (2019)
AITL& PTCL-TFHFluidigm Access Array& Illumina MiSeq94NAAITL: 72%; PTCL-TFH: 73%154frameshift indels or
Nonsense changes: 118 (77%)		NA57%Yao [20] et al. (2020)
AITLTargeted sequencing10660%6NAR550; Q1274; G422Efs’ 5; L34F; Q909; G422Efs’ 50/6Butzmann [21]
et al. (2020)
AITLTargeted sequencing5480%8Frameshift insertion: 2/8 (25%);
Nonsilent: 3/8 (37.5%);Frameshift deletion:3/8 (37.5%)		NA4/5 (80%)Tran B. Nguyen [23]
et al. (2020)
AITLNGS282585%75Missense: 26/75 (34.7%);Nosens: 22/75 (29.3%);Frameshift: 22/75 (29.3%);Splice: 4/75 (5.3%);CDS-indel: 1/75 (1.3%)NA22/28 (79%)Ye [22] et al. (2021)
AITLNGS44NANA49Frameshift: 18/49 (36.7%);Missense: 12/49 (24.5%);Splice: 3/49 (6%);Stop_gained: 12/49 (24.5%);Synonymous: 3/49 (6%);3_prime_UTR: 1/49 (2%)NANAMarta Rodríguez [27]
et al. (2021)
AITL& PTCL-TFHTargeted resequencing6349AITL: 78%;
PTCL-TFH: 58%		NANANA28/49 (57%)Lemonnier [25]
et al. (2021)
Abbreviations: AITL, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma; PTCL-NOS, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified; FTLC, follicular T-cel1 lymphoma; PTCL-TFH, peripheral T-cell lymphoma with TFH phenotype.
Table
Table 2. Treatment outcomes of novel monotherapy and combination therapy for refractory and relapsed T-cell lymphoma including AITL.
Table 2. Treatment outcomes of novel monotherapy and combination therapy for refractory and relapsed T-cell lymphoma including AITL.
5PTCL SubtypeDesignPrimary EndpointORRCRPRMedian PFS (Months)Median OS (Months)Reference
RomidepsinPTCL n = 130 (PTCL-NOS n = 67, AITL n = 27)Phase II, Open-LabelCR/Cru25%15%11%4NACoiffier [72] et al. (2012)
BelinostatPTCL n = 24 (PTCL-NOS n = 13, AITL n = 3)Phase IIORR25%8.30%16.70%NANAFoss [73] et al. (2015)
BelinostatPTCL n = 120 (PTCL-NOS n = 77, AITL n = 22)Phase II, Open-Label, multicenterORR26%11%15%1.67.9O’Connor [74] et al. (2015)
Chidamide PTCL n = 79 (PTCL-NOS n = 27, AITL n = 10)Phase II, Open-Label, multicenterORR28%9%14%2.121.4Shi [75] et al. (2015)
Chidamide PTCL n = 256Phase II, multicenterORR39.06% (PTCL 37.3% AITL 49.23%)PTCL 8.73% AITL 9.23%PTCL 28.57% AITL 40%4.3NAShi [76] et al. (2017)
Romidepsin + CHOPPTCL n = 37 (PTCL-NOS n = 9, AITL n = 15)phase 1b/2 ORR69%51%17%21.3NADupuis [77] et al. (2015)
Panobinostat + bortezomibPTCL n = 25 (PTCL-NOS n = 9, AITL n = 8)Phase II, Open-Label, multicenterORR43% (PTCL 22% AITL 50%)21.5% (PTCL 11% AITL 25%)21.5% (PTCL 11% AITL 25%)NANATan [76] et al. (2015)
Chidamide + chemotherapyPTCL n = 127Phase II, multicenterORR51.18%NANA5.4NAShi [76] et al. (2017)
Duvelisib +
Romidepsin		T-cell lymphoma n = 12Phase I ORR50%NANANANAMoskowitz [78] et al. (2017)
Duvelisib + bortezomibT-cell lymphoma n = 17Phase I ORR53%20%23%NANAMoskowitz [78] et al. (2017)
5-AzacytidineAITL n = 12 PTCL n = 37Clinic trialORR75%50%25%1521Lemonnier [31] et al. (2018)
Duvelisib +
Romidepsin		T-cell lymphoma n = 39 (PTCL n = 22)Phase I, Parallel MulticenterORR51% (PTCL 55%)17% (PTCL 27%)34%8.8 (PTCL)NAHorwitz [41] et al. (2018)
Romidepsin + CHOPPTCL n = 421 (Ro-CHOP n = 211)Phase IIIPFS63%41%22%1251.8Bachy [79] et al. (2021)
5-Azacytidine + romidepsinPTCL n = 25 (PTCL-NOS n = 4, AITL n = 14)Phase II, multicenterORR61%48%13%8Not reachedFalchi [80] et al. (2021)
5-Azacytidine + ChidamidePTCL n = 24 (PTCL-NOS n = 4, AITL n = 15)Phase IIORR68.8% (AITL 72.7%)31.2% (AITL 36.4%)37.5% (AITL 36.4%)NANADing [81] et al. (2021)
Abbreviation: PTCL, peripheral T-cell lymphoma; PTCL-NOS, PTCL not otherwise specified; AITL, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma; CHOP, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone; ORR, overall response rate; CR, complete response; Cru, complete response unconfirmed; PR, partial response; PFS, progression-free survival; OS, overall survival; NA, not analyzed.
Table
Table 3. Preclinical trials of TET2 targeting agents.
Table 3. Preclinical trials of TET2 targeting agents.
DrugsDisease of StudyModelsMechanismLimitationsReference
Bobcat339 (TET enzyme inhibitors)NAHT-22 cellsReduce DNA 5hmC levels in hippocampalNo testing in animal model and clinical trialGabriella [94] et al. (2019)
TET-specific inhibitors (TETi76)MDSCell-permeable diethyl ester of TETi76 and different human leukemia cell lines (K562, MEG-01, SIG-M5, OCI-AML5, and MOLM13) Decrease cytosine hydroxymethylation and restrict clonal out-growth of TET2 mutant Potential to replicate the TET2 mutationGuan [95] et al. (2020)
Ascorbic acid (AA) DLBCLLymphoma cell lines LY-1 (DLBCL), Karpas 299 (T-cell NHL), and Jeko (mantle cell NHL)Enhance TET activity and an increase in the hydroxymethylcytosine fraction; reactivate SMAD1The target, route of administration, and dose are unclearN Shenoy [96] et al. (2017)
Ascorbate AMLSKM-1 cellsIncrease TET activityThe target, route of administration, and dose are unclearCarlos [97] et al. (2021)
Ascorbic acid (AA)Myeloid neoplasia (MN)TET2−/− micefacilitate Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox reactionThe target, route of administration, and dose are unclearGuan [98] et al. (2020)
Ascorbic acid (AA) + 5-Azacytidine (5-aza)Pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)TET2-silenced T-ALL cellsStable re-expression of the TET2 gene; up-regulation of methylated genes and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs)The target, route of administration, and dose are unclearMaike [99] et al. (2021)
Vitamin CColorectal cancer (CRC)HCT 116 cellsIncrease expression of CDKN1AThe target, route of administration, and dose are unclearChristian [100] et al. (2018)
Four-antibiotic cocktail CMMLTET2 KO miceSupress TNF-α signalingHow antibiotics inhibit the pathways associated with TNF is unclearZeng [101] et al. (2019)
Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE)Colorectal cancer (CRC)SW480 cellsReduce expression of miR-29a No testing in the clinical trialLi [102] et al. (2022)
Abbreviation: DLBCL, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; CMML, chronic myelocytic leukemia; MDS, myelodysplastic syndromes; AML, acute myelocytic leukemia; NA, Not available; TET, ten-eleven translocation protein; CDKN1A, tumor suppressor p21; 5hmc, 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine.
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Hu, L.; Zhang, X.; Li, H.; Lin, S.; Zang, S. Targeting TET2 as a Therapeutic Approach for Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma. Cancers 2022, 14, 5699. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14225699

AMA Style

Hu L, Zhang X, Li H, Lin S, Zang S. Targeting TET2 as a Therapeutic Approach for Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma. Cancers. 2022; 14(22):5699. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14225699

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hu, Lina, Xuanye Zhang, Huifeng Li, Suxia Lin, and Shengbing Zang. 2022. "Targeting TET2 as a Therapeutic Approach for Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma" Cancers 14, no. 22: 5699. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14225699

APA Style

Hu, L., Zhang, X., Li, H., Lin, S., & Zang, S. (2022). Targeting TET2 as a Therapeutic Approach for Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma. Cancers, 14(22), 5699. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14225699

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