Prediction of Response to FDA-Approved Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents the predominant cancer in pediatric populations, though its occurrence in adults is relatively rare. Pre-treatment risk stratification is crucial for predicting prognosis. Important factors for assessment include patient age, white blood cell (WBC) count at diagnosis, extramedullary involvement, immunophenotype, and cytogenetic aberrations.

Causes of hospitalization in sickle cell diseased children in western region of Saudi Arabia. A single center study.

Objectives: To highlight the causes of hospitalization among sickle cell diseased (SCD) children in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A retrospective study conducted at the Maternity and Children's Hospital, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. A data of 739 SCD children admitted to the hematology/oncology unit between October 2010 and September 2015 were collected.

Correlation between serum leptin and its gene expression to the anthropometric measures in overweight and obese children.

Obesity is a multifactor disorder with evidence supporting the role of the genetic factor in its etiology. The present study evaluates the relationship between leptin G2548A (rs7799039) and leptin receptors (Gln223Arg (rs1137101) genotyping and its leptin level and the risk of childhood obesity. This case-control study was conducted on 168 overweight and obese Saudi children and 126 non obese one served as control.

Synergisitic and Antagonistic AML Cell Type-specific Responses to 5-Aza-2-deoxycitidine and 1-h-D-Arabinofuranoside.

Background: The search for synergistic drug combinations is critical to the treatment of drug-resistant cancer, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Characterizing RNA expression associated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC) and 1-h-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C) is a critical step to increase the efficacy of their combinatorial therapies.

Materials And Methods: After 72 h of single-dose treatments of AML cells with DAC or Ara-C, the half-maximal effective concentration of DAC and Ara-C and the drug combination index were assessed.

Prognostic significance of early platelet count decline in preterm newborns.

Objectives: Decline of platelets with or without thrombocytopenia is observed in critically ill preterm newborns. Prognostic significance of platelets count in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit focused on outcome after thrombocytopenia. We aimed to estimate the changes in platelets count within the first 7 days of life in preterm newborns and its relation to final outcomes.

Phase I dose-escalation trial of clofarabine followed by escalating doses of fractionated cyclophosphamide in children with relapsed or refractory acute leukemias.

Background: By inhibiting DNA repair, clofarabine (CLO) may augment cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced DNA damage and apoptosis. We performed a Phase I study for refractory and/or relapsed (R/R) leukemia in children to determine maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of time-sequential CLO followed by CY.

Procedure: Thirteen patients with (R/R) ALL (n = 8) and AML (N = 5), median age 9 years (range: 2-12 years), were treated with escalating doses of CLO on days 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9, 10 and CY 200 mg/m(2) /day on days 0 and 1 then 400 mg/m(2) /day on days 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10.

Essential versus reactive thrombocythemia in children: retrospective analyses of 12 cases.

Background: Essential thrombocythemia (ET) rarely occurs in the pediatric population and little is known about the clinical course and the molecular characteristics.

Procedure: In this retrospective multi-institutional study we examine the clinical, hematological, and molecular features of 12 children aged 5-16 years with thrombocytosis and a suspected diagnosis of ET.

Results: Median follow-up was 59 months (range 10-72).