title: Direct association of socio-economic status with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children.
abstract: Lymphoblasts from 186 consecutive untreated children <18 years were analysed by flow cytometry in Brazil. Socio-economic status was defined by family income; undernourishment by height and weight for age standardised z scores below -1.28. The observed frequencies were precursor-B (pre-B) CD10 positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) (CD10+) 65%, pre-B CD10 negative (CD10-) 13%, and T-ALL 18%. The typical incidence peak at age 2-5 years was observed among the CD10 positive cases. Nutritional variables were not associated with immunophenotypes. Low monthly per capita income was associated with T-immunophenotype (P=0.024). In conclusion, a direct association between unfavourable socio-economic status and the T-phenotype indicates a potential role of socio-economic factors on the genesis of ALL in children, thus confirming indirect data of the international literature.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Division, Hospital of Clinics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cybele A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Paes
authors.forename: Marcos B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: Ricardo V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.forename: Olindo A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Martins-Filho
authors.forename: Diana C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Taboada
authors.forename: Vanderson G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000378:metabolism; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D015260:Neprilysin