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Analysis of Vγ/Jβ trans ‐rearrangements in paediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Lopes Luiz Fernando,
Neto Emmanuel Dias,
LorandMetze Irene,
Latorre Maria do Rosario D. O.,
Simpson Andrew J. G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2001.02826.x
Subject(s) - chemotherapy , polymerase chain reaction , gene rearrangement , medicine , gastroenterology , gene , biology , genetics
The frequency of the hybrid Vγ/Jβ trans ‐rearrangement in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) was analysed in a transversal study of paediatric patients ( n = 210) with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and solid tumours (ST). Different amounts of DNA were used as the template for a nested polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the frequency of hybrid Vγ/Jβ genes, using silver‐stained gels. The frequency of the rearrangement was evaluated in groups before, during and after therapy. A greatly increased frequency of Vγ/Jβ trans ‐rearrangement was found in PBLs of both groups of patients during exposure to chemotherapeutic agents compared with patients before chemotherapy. In patients who had finished treatment, the frequency of the rearrangement fell promptly to the baseline levels in ST but showed a slow decrease in ALL in those in whom increased levels could be found until 4 years after the end of treatment. We hypothesize that the chemotherapeutic agents are able to induce the Vγ/Jβ trans ‐rearrangement, but this is transient in most cases. The exact relationship between the persistence of the rearrangement and the occurrence of secondary leukaemia remains to be determined.