Abstract
Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and lymphocyte subsets of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were investigated during chemotherapy. The treatment followed protocol ALL-BFM-90. Children with ALL at the time of diagnosis showed statistically significant higher SCE frequencies (4.9 +/- 0.77) than healthy controls (3.6 +/- 0.93; P = 0.002). The in vivo effects of cyclophosphamide (CP) resulted in a dramatic increase of the SCE frequency (20.5 +/- 3.76). This increased SCE level of lymphocytes might reflect an instability of DNA or a deficiency of DNA repair. One could suggest that lymphocytes of children with ALL might have a higher susceptibility to harmful influences; and this could be a co-factor towards the development of the malignant disease. However, immediately 1 week after the administration of CP, the SCE rate decreased. This decline of SCE frequency correlated with a severe reduction of the absolute number of T lymphocytes. The observed reduction of SCE frequency may be due to a loss of T lymphocytes, or SCE became repaired during 1 week.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
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Asparaginase / administration & dosage
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Chromosomes, Human / drug effects
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Chromosomes, Human / ultrastructure
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Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
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Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology*
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Cytarabine / administration & dosage
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Daunorubicin / administration & dosage
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Female
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Humans
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Immunophenotyping
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Infant
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Lymphocyte Count*
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Lymphocyte Subsets* / drug effects
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Male
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Mercaptopurine / administration & dosage
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Mercaptopurine / pharmacology
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Methotrexate / administration & dosage
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Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / blood
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Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
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Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics*
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Prednisone / administration & dosage
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Sister Chromatid Exchange* / drug effects
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Time Factors
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Vincristine / administration & dosage
Substances
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Cytarabine
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Vincristine
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Cyclophosphamide
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Mercaptopurine
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Asparaginase
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Prednisone
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Methotrexate
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Daunorubicin
Supplementary concepts
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AIEOP acute lymphoblastic leukemia protocol