Evaluation of miR-21 dependent pathway on prognosis of B cells childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (c-ALL)

Abstract

Background: Precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B c-ALL) is a critical disease, frequently distributed in childhood age. With the current treatment protocol; survival rate approach only 90% however and still a significant clinical challenge for relapse persist due to resistance to chemotherapy. LncRNA CASC2 (cancer susceptibility candidate 2) has been characterized as a tumor suppressor in cancer. It has been evident that miR-21 is over-expressed in malignant B-cell lymphoma, thus considered to be a marker of immune cell activation. A recent study demonstrates that lnc-CASC2 is a target of miR-21 in cancer. Methods: in the current study, the peripheral blood samples of seventy pre-B c-ALL are analysed for the expression of miR-21 and lnc-CASC2; thirty healthy children are compared as negative control. Results: lnc-CASC2 was down-regulated by 5 folds in pre-B c-ALL versus the control; however; miR-21 was increased. CASC2/miR-21 haven’t a prognostic potentiality in pre-B c-ALL. Conclusion: we concluded that lnc-CASC2/miR-21 expression levels cannot predict disease prognosis and outcome in children with pre-B ALL. Although, more study should be conducted.