Lymphocytes DNA Content, P53, C-Myc And Bcl-2 As Predictive Markers In Childhood With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

Cell cycle parameters as well as apoptotic and tumor markers directly control cell growth. DNA ploidy and S phase fraction, apoptosis fraction in addition to apoptotic inducer (p53, c-myc) and antiapoptotic marker (Bcl-2) were investigated in childhood with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) leukemia as a predictive markers represented in survival data. This study included 70 children with (ALL); 38 males and 32 females; of median age 5 years. Event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated for all studied cases. Cell cycle and apoptotic parameters as well as p53, c-myc and Bcl-2 were analyzed using FACS caliber flow cytometer in the lymphocyte cells of peripheral blood. Aneuploidy constituted 33% of studied cases. The median overall survival (OS) showed higher significant values when S% was <4.5%, and DNA index was > 0.94 and p53 was < 70.87, whereas it showed no significant difference related to G0/G1%, G2/M% and aneuploidy %. The median event free survival (EFS) showed significant higher value at Bcl-2 > 81.5 but with no significance related to other cell cycle parameters as well as p53 and c-myc. These data suggest that DNA index, S phase fraction, p53 and Bcl-2 may be useful as a predictive markers that help patients\' stratification and adjusting protocols of ALL therapy.

Egyptian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Vol. 25 (2) 2007: pp. 192-211