Expression pattern of long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 in the remission induction therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundLong non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) is deregulated in many cancers because of its role in cell growth arrest and apoptosis. Additionally,GAS5interacts with glucocorticoid receptor, making it a potential pharmacotranscription marker of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. In this study, we aimed at analysingGAS5expression in the remission induction therapy phase of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), in which GCs are mandatorily used, and to correlate it with therapy response.MethodsGAS5 expression was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells taken from 29 childhood ALL patients at diagnosis, on day 15 and day 33 of remission induction therapy using RT-qPCR methodology.ResultsOur results have shown interindividual differences inGAS5expression at all time points. For each ALL patient,GAS5expression was higher on day 15 in comparison to its level at diagnosis (p<0.0005). On day 33, the level ofGAS5expression decreased in comparison with day 15 (p<0.0005), but it was still significantly higher than at diagnosis for the majority of patients (p=0.001). Patients whose number of blasts on day 8 was below 100 per μL of peripheral blood had a higherGAS5expression at diagnosis (p=0.016), and lower ratio day 15/diagnosis (p=0.009).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the expression level ofGAS5could be a potential marker of therapy response in remission induction therapy of childhood ALL.