title: Methotrexate polyglutamate synthesis in lymphoblasts from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Lymphoblasts obtained from children at the time of diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia accumulated predominantly long-chain methotrexate polyglutamates containing 4-6 glutamyl residues when incubated with methotrexate in vitro. While methotrexate polyglutamates of these chain lengths are formed in other cells, they constitute only a minor proportion of polyglutamates in them. This extensive accumulation of long-chain methotrexate polyglutamates in lymphoblasts may explain in part the efficacy of methotrexate in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; C014085:methotrexate polyglutamate; D008727:Methotrexate