[Diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives in RASopathies].

RASopathies are congenital diseases that manifest in childhood with symptoms and potential complications, typically associated with an elevated tumour predisposition risk. The heterogeneous symptoms involve mostly central nervous, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal systems and skin, and modified growth pattern. From molecular perspective, the function of a key protein involved in Ras signalling is impaired, leading to disrupted regulation of cell growth and division.

Digital PCR-based quantification of miR-181a in the cerebrospinal fluid aids patient stratification in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Despite remarkable improvements in the survival of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), sensitive detection and clinical management of central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) are still immensely challenging. Blast cells residing in the CNS but not circulating in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) remain undetected by current diagnostic methods, preventing a truly risk-adapted anti-leukemic treatment in this compartment. We examined the clinical applicability of the molecular marker microRNA (miR)-181a quantified in the cell-free CSF to evaluate the level of CNS involvement and to optimize patient stratification based on CNS status.

The significance of CD49f expression in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Objectives: CD49f is an adhesion molecule present on malignant lymphoblasts in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; it is associated with a poor prognosis. CD49f expression has been proposed as a marker for measurable residual disease (MRD) marker, but this marker has yet to be implemented in clinical practice.

Methods: In this study, we used flow cytometry to detect CD49f expression by leukemic blasts in paired bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid samples at diagnosis and bone marrow at day 15 of treatment.