Clinical features of the most common fusion genes in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Med Oncol. 2010 Jun;27(2):449-53. doi: 10.1007/s12032-009-9232-x. Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Abstract

Contemporary protocols ensure high-remission rate and long-term free survival in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but small percentage of patients is still incurable. Molecular genetic methods helped to establish submicroscopic classification as well as minimal residual disease follow-up, considered to be responsible for relapse. Our study enrolled 70 pediatric patients with de novo ALL, analyzed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for the presence of four major risk-stratifying translocations (BCR/ABL, MLL/AF4, TEL/AML1, and E2A/PBX1). Bone marrow samples were collected at diagnosis, at the end of induction phase, and after intensive chemotherapy with the aim to establish the correlation between chromosomal aberration, clinical features, and treatment response. Presenting the results of this study, we offer another evidence of variable incidence and clinical characteristics of ALL subtypes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Proteins / classification
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / classification
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion