Evaluating the Frequencies of , and Variant Alleles and Their Association with L-Asparaginase Hypersensitivity in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Introduction: L-asparaginase is a vital component for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, hypersensitivity reactions and hepatotoxicity hinder its anti-neoplastic efficacy. Previous reports indicated that genetic variants in , and genes might be associated with hypersensitivity reactions and with liver function.

Objective: In this study, it was investigated whether this association also exists in a pediatric ALL cohort from Ethiopia.

Methods: Three variants rs4958351, rs73062673, and rs6021191 were genotyped in a cohort of 160 patients. Association analysis to investigate the association with hypersensitivity reactions was performed using logistic regression analyses. Besides these variants, a variant in (rs738409) was genotyped to assess the association with liver function.

Results: Genotype frequencies of rs4958351, rs73062673, and rs6021191 were higher/lower than previously reported. One hundred and forty-four patients were included in the association analysis of which, 18 (12.5%) developed L-ASP hypersensitivity. Though the frequency of hypersensitivity was higher in patients that carried the risk alleles of the three investigated genes, no statistically significant differences were observed. Association analysis between rs738409 and liver function could not be investigated due to a lack of clinical information.

Conclusion: In conclusion, none of the tested genes did predict L-asparaginase hypersensitivity in an Ethiopian pediatric ALL patients.