title: Mitochondrial DNA in residual leukemia cells in cerebrospinal fluid in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: This feasibility study was designed to assess the ability to measure mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells that contributed to minimal disease/persistent or residual disease (MD/PRD) from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Increase in mtDNA copies in cancer cells has been suggested to play a role in MD/PRD. CSF as well as blood specimens from 6 children were assayed for MD/PRD and mtDNA copy numbers by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Of 7 MD/PRD-positive specimens, 6 had increased mtDNA copy numbers; while 11 MD/PRD-negative specimens had no increase in mtDNA copy numbers, p < 0.003. This is the first proof-of-concept study to measure mtDNA copy numbers in MD/PRD-positive CSF specimens from children with ALL. Increase of mtDNA copy numbers in MD/PRD childhood ALL cells and its significance as a mechanism for recurrence requires further investigation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Minimal residual disease; Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Central nervous system; Cerebrospinal fluid; Mitochondria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kusao
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Troelstrup
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agsalda
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shiramizu