title: Molecular diagnostics in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Somatically acquired genetic alterations play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The molecular analysis of these alterations has increased our understanding of the mechanisms of leukemogenesis. In addition, this information has led to improvements in our abilities to predict treatment response and to deliver the optimal intensity of treatment to individual patients. For example, the prognosis for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia whose leukemic cells express the TEL-AML1 fusion is favorable when they are treated on modem chemotherapy protocols, whereas patients whose leukemic lymphoblasts contain the MLL-AF4 or the BCR-ABL fusion sometimes require allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for cure. Molecular techniques are also used to detect minimal residual disease and genetic polymorphisms that are important in optimizing drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and University of Tennessee, College of Medicine, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA. jeffrey.rubnitz@stjude.org
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rubnitz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D000097764:ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein
chemical_list: D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D051788:Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C113855:MLL-AF4 fusion protein, human; C102421:TEL-AML1 fusion protein; D000097764:ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein