Relationship between subtype-specific minimal residual disease level and long-term prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) based risk stratification criteria for specific genetic subtypes remained unclear in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Among 723 children with newly diagnosed ALL treated with the Chinese Children Leukemia Group CCLG-2008 protocol, MRD was assessed at time point 1 (TP1, at the end of induction) and TP2 (before consolidation treatment) and the MRD levels significantly differed in patients with different fusion genes or immunophenotypes (P all < 0.001).

Low expression of and predicts risk of relapse in childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective cohort study.

CtBP is a known corepressor abundantly expressed in cancer and regulates genes involved in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of expression in a cohort of pediatric patients with B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). It further evaluated the role of combined and expression in risk of relapse of BCP-ALL.

Outcome of children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with CCLG-ALL 2008: The first nation-wide prospective multicenter study in China.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy among children. The trial Chinese Children Leukemia Group (CCLG)-ALL 2008 was a prospective clinical trial designed to improve treatment outcome of childhood ALL through the first nation-wide collaborative study in China. Totally 2231 patients were recruited from ten tertiary hospitals in eight cities.

Transcription factor E2F3a regulates transcription and enhances sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Low expression of and caspase 8 associated protein 2 () are associated with poor prognosis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: Dual-luciferase reporter assay and wild type as well as four mutated types of reporter plasmids were used to demonstrate the activation of E2F3a on transcription. The direct binding of E2F3a with the promoter of was shown by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP).

Polymorphisms in methotrexate transporters and their relationship to plasma methotrexate levels, toxicity of high-dose methotrexate, and outcome of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) plays an important role in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) although there is great inter-patient variability in the efficacy and toxicity of MTX. The relationship between polymorphisms in genes encoding MTX transporters and MTX response is controversial. In the present study, 322 Chinese children with standard- and intermediate-risk ALL were genotyped for 12 polymorphisms.

[Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Efficacy of Children with SIL/TAL1 Positive T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of children with SIL-TAL1 fusion gene positive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL).

Methods: The data of 101 children with T-ALL were collected from April 2005 to November 2012 in Beijing Children's Hospital. The common clinical features, early treatment response, minimal residual disease (MRD), event-free survival (EFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were compared between children with SIL-TAL1 positive and negative T-ALL.

[Research Progress on Expression Regulation, Function and Clinical Significance of CASP8AP2 Gene].

We systematically reviewed the results of the studies on expression regulation, biological functions, and clinical prognostic significance of CASP8AP2 gene. At present, the studies showed that the expression of CASP8AP2 gene was regulated by Homeobox proteins and DNA methylation, and could be silenced by miRNA-210. This protein was involved in apoptosis mediated by FAS and TNFα, NF-κB activation mediated by TNFα, regulation of gene expression induced by glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor, comprising Cajal body and histone locus body, transcription of replication-dependent histone, 3' end processing of histone, regulation of S phase progression, in addition to functioning as coactivator of transcription factors c-Myb and p73 to activating many genes' expression.

[Clinical significance of CASP8AP2 gene methylation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Objective: To study the methylation level in the promoter of caspase 8 associated protein 2 (CASP8AP2) gene between samples at diagnosis and in complete remission, and to investigate its relationship with clinical features and prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: Diagnostic DNA samples from 109 newly diagnosed children with ALL admitted from August 2007 to March 2010, and 94 ALL children in CR (complete remission) among them were collected. Bisulfite modification and MethyLight method established by our research team were used to determine the methylation level of the two key CpG sites (at -1189 and -1176) of the promoter of CASP8AP2 gene.

Low expressions of ARS2 and CASP8AP2 predict relapse and poor prognosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated on China CCLG-ALL 2008 protocol.

ARS2 protein is important to early development and cell proliferation, in which ARS2-CASP8AP2 interaction is implicated. However, the predictive significance of ARS2 in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is unknown. Here we evaluate the predictive values of ARS2 expression and combined ARS2 and CASP8AP2 expression in relapse.

[Correlation analysis of FPGS rs10760502G>a polymorphism with prognosis and MTX-related toxicity in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

This study was aimed to explore the relation between folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) rs10760502 polymorphism and prognosis and methotrexate (MTX)-related toxicities in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Sequenom MassARRAY was used to genotype rs10760502. The χ(2) test, Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression models were used to analyze the data.

E2F3a gene expression has prognostic significance in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Objectives: To study E2F3a expression and its clinical significance in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: We quantified E2F3a expression at diagnosis in 148 children with ALL by real-time PCR. In the test cohort (n = 48), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to find the best cut-off point to divide the patients into E2F3a low- and high-expression groups.

NOTCH1 mutations are associated with favourable long-term prognosis in paediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a retrospective study of patients treated on BCH-2003 and CCLG-2008 protocol in China.

Activating mutations of NOTCH1 are a common occurrence in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL), but its impact on T-ALL treatment is still controversial. In this study, the incidence, clinical features, and prognosis of 92 Chinese children with T-ALL treated using the Beijing Children's Hospital-2003 and Chinese Childhood Leukaemia Group-2008 protocols were analysed. NOTCH1 mutations were found in 42% of T-ALL patients and were not associated with clinical features, prednisone response, and minimal residual disease (MRD) at day 33 and 78.

FPGS rs1544105 polymorphism is associated with treatment outcome in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Folypolyglutamate synthase (FPGS) catalyzes the polyglutamation of folates and antifolates, such as methotrexate (MTX), to produce highly active metabolites. FPGS tag SNP rs1544105C > T is located in the gene promoter. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of rs1544105 polymorphism on the treatment outcome in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL).

[Evaluation of the efficacy of two successive protocols on pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia with E2A-PBX1 fusion gene].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of BCH-03 and CCLG-08 protocols in treating E2A-PBX1 pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Method: From January 2003 to January 2011, 59 ALL patients identified as E2A-PBX1 were analyzed in a retrospective study. There were 37 and 22 patients treated with Protocol BCH-03 and CCLG-08, respectively.

Hypermethylation of two CpG sites upstream of CASP8AP2 promoter influences gene expression and treatment outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

DNA hypermethylation of Caspase 8 associated protein 2 (CASP8AP2) and its role in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is unclear. We analyzed methylation status of CpG sites upstream of CASP8AP2 gene in 86 children with ALL by bisulfite sequencing and quantitative PCR. Methylation percentage of two CpG sites at positions of -1189 and -1176 was inversely correlated with mRNA expression (Spearman correlation: -0.

[Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for 8 patients with malignant infantile osteopetrosis in China].

Objective: Osteopetrosis is a rare genetic disorder and the malignant infantile osteopetrosis (MIOP) is the worst subtype of this disease. Seventy percent of patients die in six years of life without proper treatment. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers the only chance of cure for MIOP.

Clinical features, early treatment responses, and outcomes of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia in China with or without specific fusion transcripts: a single institutional study of 1,004 patients.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with distinct fusion transcripts has unique clinical features. In this study, the incidence, clinical characteristics, early treatment response, and outcomes of 1,004 Chinese pediatric ALLs were analyzed. Patients with TEL-AML1 and E2A-PBX1 fusion genes or other B cell precursor ALLs (BCP-ALL) had favorable clinical features, were sensitive to prednisone, had low minimal residual disease (MRD), and an excellent prognosis, with a 5-year event-free survival (EFS) of 84-92%.

[Treatment with combined all-trans retinoic acid and anthracycline of 37 children with acute promyelocytic leukemia].

Objective: To study the clinical features of childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and to analyze the survival and prognostic factors and efficacy and safety of combined treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline.

Method: The clinical features of 37 children with newly diagnosed APL hospitalized in our center during January 2005 to February 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.

Result: Thirty percent of patients were at low risk, 43% patients were at intermediate risk, 27% patients were at high risk.

[Gene rearrangement pattern of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (Ig/TR) and its clinical characteristics in children with SET-NUP214 fusion gene-positive leukemia/lymphoma].

The purpose of this study was to analyze the gene rearrangement pattern of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor (Ig/TR) and its clinical characteristics in three children with SET-NUP214 fusion gene positive leukemia/lymphoma. The transcript of SET-NUP214 fusion gene was detected by RT-nested PCR. The pattern of Ig/TR gene rearrangement was analyzed by using the BIOMED-2 multiplex PCR assays.

[Clinical research on clearance of leukemic cell during induction of remission therapy in children with precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of clearance of leukemic cell during induction of remission therapy in children with precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), and to assess the applicative value of different indexes.

Method: From April 2005 to April 2008, 206 children with de novo BCP-ALL were admitted. We firstly analyzed the effect of clearance of leukemic cells during induction of remission therapy on relapse-free survival (RFS).

[Tolerability of 6-mercaptopurine in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Objective: 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) has been the backbone of maintenance chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the response to 6-MP is highly variable, adverse events leading to discontinuation or dose-reduction (children intolerant) of 6-MP occur in many children with ALL. The aim of this study was to investigate the tolerability of 6-MP and to optimize thiopurine use.

Methods: The authors evaluated in a prospective manner the tolerance of 6-MP in ALL children from Oct.

[Effect of RBC lysing solution on CD34(+) cell counting].

To investigate whether the RBC lysing solution can affect the results of relative enumeration of CD34(+) cells, 37 mobile peripheral blood apheresis products were stained using CD34-PE and CD45-FITC monoclone antibodies and RBCs were then lysed by two lysing solution commercially available (one named FACS Lysing Solution, FACS; another IOTest 3 Lysing Solution, IOTest) and one lysing solution self-prepared. After being processed by lyse-and-then-washed method, samples were detected by FACSC anto flow cytometer. The percentages of CD34(+) cells were determined based on ISHAGE gating strategy, forward and side scatter (FSC and SSC) characteristics, percentage of CD45(+) cells were recorded simultaneously.