LAUSR

Context Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents the most common type of pediatric malignant neoplasm. The miRNAs play an important role in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis and their disruption contributes to leukemogenesis and considered novel candidates with diagnostic, predictive and prognostic potential value. Recently, specific miRNAs have been discovered to be involved in the pathogenesis of ALL serving as a biomarker for detection of leukemia at diagnosis and relapse. Objective To study the associations between miR181a expression and the outcome after induction so the possibility of using miR-181a expression as a predictive marker for children with ALL. Methods This study was carried out in Oncological Clinical Pathology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute and included 40 newly diagnosed pediatric ALL. MiR-181a expression was assessed at diagnosis and before start of treatment. MiR-181a was extracted from peripheral blood or bone marrow sample by miRNeasy Mini kit, then revers transcription of miRNA to cDNA using TaqMan® MicroRNA Reverse Transcription (RT) Kit, and finally, real-time PCR(q-PCR)  using 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System by TaqMan® Universal Master Mix. Patients have been evaluated for the response after induction therapy clinically, by complete blood picture and bone marrow aspirate examination. Results The expression level of miR-181a was significantly higher in remission group than in non-remission group. (P Conclusions High expression of miRNA-181a is associated with remission and good outcome after induction therapy in pediatric ALL. So miR-181a could be considered as a predictive marker in pediatric ALL. We recommended further studies to work on the use of miR-181a as a prognostic and predictive non-invasive marker in childhood ALL.