Serum levels of mutant p53, soluble FAS [S-FAS] in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

ABSTRACT

In a trial to improve the outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukemic patients, the serum concentrations of mutant p53 and soluble Fas [s- Fas] as antiapoptotic markers were assessed in the sera of 45 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] [on admission, after remission and in relapsed cases] as well as in 15 healthy children of matched age and sex as controls [on admission]. The study revealed a significant increase of mutant p53 and s-Fas in newly diagnosed cases than in the controls and ALL cases in remission, in non responders than in responders and in cases with organomegaly than those without. Although mutant p53 and s-Fas had the same specificity and negative predictive values, mutant p53 had significantly higher sensitivity and positive predictive value than s-Fas in ALL cases with metastases as well as in relapsed cases. On admission, there was a significant positive correlation between blast cells% and each of mutant p53, s- Fas levels as well as between the levels of the last two antiapoptotic markers