Incidence, clinical characteristics and early treatment outcome in Indian patients of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with ALL-1 gene rearrangement

In a series of 185 patients (median age 7 years) of acute lymphoblastic leu kaemia (ALL) from India, the overall incidence of ALL-1 gene rearrangement using the Southern blot technique was 11.4% (21/185). The incidence amongst the infants (age <less than or equal to> 1 year, 70%) was significantly hi gher when compared to patients > 1- less than or equal to 10 years (7.4%, P = 0.00001) as well as > 10 years old (9.3%, P=0.0001). ALL-1 gene rearrang ement was associated with significantly higher WBC count (P=0.01) and CD10 negativity (P=0.00000001). Complete remission (CR) and relapse rates in 98 patients evaluable for response to therapy on a uniform therapy protocol wa s independent of ALL-1 gene status. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.