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Background MicroRNAs (miR) have been reported to be involved in hematopoiesis and in the pathogenesis of several hematological malignant neoplasms. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in human miR genes may alter the expression of those genes and influence the predisposition to childhood leukemia. Objective To evaluate the association of rs2910164 G>C, rs57095329 A>G and the expression of miRNA-146a in ethnic South Asian children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Method Genotyping and expression analysis using TaqMan Small RNA Assay was performed on 71 patients with pathologically confirmed ALL and 74 control individuals. Results No statistically significant association was found between the 2 SNPs, its expression levels, and ALL risk. Conclusion Haplotype analysis indicated a combination of allele A of rs57095329 and allele G of rs2910164 could represent a risk haplotype and an allele combination of G of rs57095329 and G of rs2910164 could represent a protective haplotype for ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to determine the pattern of relapsed disease and identify problem areas in management. Relapse occurred in 111 (23.9%) of the boys and 16 (13.0%) of the girls. The majority relapsed while on chemotherapy. Isolated relapse in the marrow and in the CNS was seen in 51 (40.8%) and 24 (18.9%) patients, respectively. Isolated testicular relapse was seen in 17 (15.3%) of the 111 boys who suffered a relapse. Age and TLC at initial presentation and gender in relapsers and nonrelapsers were compared. Multivariate regression analysis showed that gender (p = .03) and TLC (p = .001) were significant predictors of relapse. Relapse of disease while on chemotherapy and high incidence of CNS and testicular relapse indicate the need for reappraisal of treatment protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]