Polymorphisms in multidrug resistance-associated protein gene 4 is associated with outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Blood. 2009 Aug 13;114(7):1383-6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-11-191098. Epub 2009 Jun 10.

Abstract

Methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine, important components of acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment, are substrates for multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP4. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed in MRP4 gene, and 4 variants were identified as tagSNPs with frequency more than or equal to 5%. They were investigated for association with treatment responses in 275 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The TC genotype of the regulatory T-1393C polymorphism was associated with better event-free survival (P = .02) and lower methotrexate plasma levels (P = .01). The CA genotype of A934C (Lys304Asn) substitution correlated in contrast with lower event-free survival (P = .02) and higher frequency of high-grade thrombocytopenia (P = .01). Gene reporter assay showed that the promoter haplotype uniquely tagged by the C-1393 allele conferred higher promoter activity compared with remaining haplotypes (P < .001). Further analyses are needed to replicate this pilot study and get closer insight into the functional effect of these polymorphisms.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Substitution*
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mercaptopurine / therapeutic use
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins / genetics*
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / mortality*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • ABCC4 protein, human
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Methotrexate