Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency and lymphocyte subpopulations during therapy

Leukemia. 1995 Mar;9(3):501-5.

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

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Asparaginase / administration & dosage
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromosomes, Human / drug effects
  • Chromosomes, Human / ultrastructure
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology*
  • Cytarabine / administration & dosage
  • Daunorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Infant
  • Lymphocyte Count*
  • Lymphocyte Subsets* / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mercaptopurine / administration & dosage
  • Mercaptopurine / pharmacology
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / blood
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Sister Chromatid Exchange* / drug effects
  • Time Factors
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Cytarabine
  • Vincristine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Asparaginase
  • Prednisone
  • Methotrexate
  • Daunorubicin

Supplementary concepts

  • AIEOP acute lymphoblastic leukemia protocol