The myeloma-associated oncogene fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 is transforming in hematopoietic cells

Translocations involving fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (fgfr3) have been identified in about 25% of patients with myeloma. To directly examine the oncogenic potential of fgfr3, murine bone marrow (BM) cells were transduced with retroviral vectors containing either wild-type fgfr3 or an activated mutant form of the receptor, fgfr3-TD. Mice transplanted with FGFR3-TD-expressing BM developed a marked leukocytosis and lethal hematopoietic cell infiltration of multiple tissues within 6 weeks of transplantation. Secondary and tertiary recipients of spleen or BM from primary fgfr3-TD mice also developed tumors within 6 to 8 weeks. Analysis of the circulating tumor cells revealed a pre-B-cell phenotype in most mice, although immature T-lymphoid or mature myeloid populations also predominated in some animals. Enhanced lymphoid but not myeloid colony formation was observed in the early posttransplantation period and only interleukin 7 and FGF-responsive pre-B-cell lines could be established from tumors. Cell expansions in primary recipients appeared polyclonal, whereas tumors in later passages exhibited either clonal B- or T-cell receptor gene rearrangements. Mice transplanted with wild-type FGFR3-expressing BM developed delayed pro-B-cell lymphoma/leukemias approximately 1 year after transplantation. These studies confirm that FGFR3 is transforming and can produce lymphoid malignancies in mice.