Two New Genetic Variations That can Lead to Common Childhood Cancer Identified

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified inherited variations in two genes that can lead to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a common childhood cancer.

The finding also includes a gene that may help predict drug response.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia - Incidence Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the cancer of white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts. It is the most common of all childhood cancers and can be fatal in weeks if left untreated.

Dr. Mary Relling, St. Jude Pharmaceutical Sciences chair and the paper's senior author, estimated that individuals who inherited variations in the genes, known as ARID5B and IKZF1, were almost twice as likely to develop ALL.

Even then, she said that the risk remains low.

"The genetic variations alone are not enough to cause the cancer. Like all cancers, pediatric ALL is a multi-factor disease," Nature magazine quoted her as saying.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia-Causes-Symptoms-Diagnosis-Treatment-Prognosis-FAQs
Acute myeloid Leukemia, more popularly known by its abbreviated form AML, is a fast- evolving leukemia that affects both children and adults alike

"But these findings may give us a handle on the mechanism of the disease and drug responsiveness to it," she added.

The inherited variations in ARID5B might also influence patient response to chemotherapy, particularly to the drug methotrexate.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Chronic myeloid Leukemia is one of the most common types of blood cancer. It is characterized by excess of WBC stem cells in the bone marrow.

"We found this same inherited variation also affected accumulation of the drug in leukemia cells. It accumulates better. That allows us to use a lower dose and still cure the leukemia," Relling said.

"These findings may identify a new marker that could be used to help decide on doses of methotrexate in patients with varying ARID5B status."

In the study involving of 441 children with ALL, the researchers found that both ARID5B and IKZF1 play important roles in normal development of lymphoid or white blood cells.

The study has been published in the journal Nature Genetics.

Source-ANI
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