The Relation between Genetic Variance of Some Selected Genes and Therapeutic Effect of Asparaginase in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

ALL constitutes 30% of all pediatric malignancies and 70% of pediatric leukemia. ASNase has become a key component in the treatment of ALL since its anti-proliferative properties on leukemic cells were first identified and characterized in the 1970s.

The ASNase treatment has been related to serious adverse effects in ALL patients including, but not limited to, hypersensitivity reactions, AAP, and cerebrovascular accidents. The polymorphisms of the genes mediating the ASNase anti-leukemic effect can underlie observed variability.

Therefore, the main goal of the present study was to assess the association of functional polymorphisms of ASNS and ATF5 genes in the ASNase pathway with the susceptibility to ASNase-related toxicity and disease outcomes in a population of childhood ALL Egyptian patients.

This was an observational prospective study that included

88 eligible children recruited from the Pediatric Oncology Clinic, Ain Shams University Children’s Hospital, Cairo, Egypt in the period between March 2014 and August 2019.