title: Expression of the senescence marker p16INK4a in skin biopsies of acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most childhood cancer survivors will develop ionizing radiation treatment-related health conditions that, in many instances, resemble age-associated pathologies. Treatment-induced premature senescence could be an underlying mechanism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we wanted to know whether the expression of p16INK4a, a senescence/aging biomarker, is increased in skin biopsies of acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors (ALL), previously exposed to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Several years post-treatments, we found p16INK4a mRNA levels are 5.8 times higher in scalp skin biopsies (targeted by cranial irradiation therapy) compared to buttocks skin biopsies (n = 10, p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate for the first time that premature senescence is induced in pediatric cancer survivors and that p16INK4a expression could be used as a potential biomarker in this population.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcoux
authors.forename: Oanh N L
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Chloé
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langlois-Pelletier
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laverdière
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hatami
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robaey
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada. christian.beausejour@recherche-ste-justine.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Christian M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Beauséjour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012535:Scalp / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16