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Nutrients Aug 2023Acute leukemia commonly occurs in young children with peak incidence at the age of 2-5 years. However, the etiology is still unclear and many preventable risk factors... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Acute leukemia commonly occurs in young children with peak incidence at the age of 2-5 years. However, the etiology is still unclear and many preventable risk factors still deserve to be reviewed. The focus of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the evidence concerning early life nourishment (breastfeeding, early life diet), neonatal vitamin K administration and the risk of acute leukemia. All epidemiological studies published up to June 2023 and assessing diet-related risk factors for childhood acute leukemia were identified in two electronic databases (PubMed and Web of Science), with no limits on publication year or language. A total of 38 studies (37 case-control studies and 1 study with pooled analysis) were included. The published risk estimates were combined into a meta-analysis using the Generic Inverse Variance method. The current evidence shows that breastfeeding (yes vs. no) has a protective effect against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (odds ratio = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.94). Evidence related to the role of other studied factors (foods and supplements) is inconclusive. Further research into the potential role of diet in early life and the risk of acute leukemia is needed to develop prevention strategies at population level. Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42019128937.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Female; Humans; Child; Child, Preschool; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Nutritional Status; Breast Feeding; Case-Control Studies; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 37686807
DOI: 10.3390/nu15173775 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Infant ALL) is a kind of pediatric ALL, diagnosed in children under 1 year of age and accounts for less than 5% of pediatric ALL. In... (Review)
Review
Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Infant ALL) is a kind of pediatric ALL, diagnosed in children under 1 year of age and accounts for less than 5% of pediatric ALL. In the infant ALL group, two subtypes can be distinguished: -rearranged ALL, known as a more difficult to cure form and - non-rearranged ALL with better survival outcomes. As infants with ALL have lesser treatment outcomes compared to older children, it is pivotal to provide novel treatment approaches. Progress in the development of molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapy presents exciting opportunities for potential improvement. This comprehensive review synthesizes the current literature on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, molecular genetics, and therapeutic approaches specific to ALL in the infant population.
Topics: Infant; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Immunotherapy; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
PubMed: 38612531
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073721 -
Leukemia Jan 2024Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare congenital bone marrow failure disorder characterized by erythroid hypoplasia. It primarily affects infants and is often caused... (Review)
Review
Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare congenital bone marrow failure disorder characterized by erythroid hypoplasia. It primarily affects infants and is often caused by heterozygous allelic variations in ribosomal protein (RP) genes. Recent studies also indicated that non-RP genes like GATA1, TSR2, are associated with DBA. P53 activation, translational dysfunction, inflammation, imbalanced globin/heme synthesis, and autophagy dysregulation were shown to contribute to disrupted erythropoiesis and impaired red blood cell production. The main therapeutic option for DBA patients is corticosteroids. However, half of these patients become non-responsive to corticosteroid therapy over prolonged treatment and have to be given blood transfusions. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is currently the sole curative option, however, the treatment is limited by the availability of suitable donors and the potential for serious immunological complications. Recent advances in gene therapy using lentiviral vectors have shown promise in treating RPS19-deficient DBA by promoting normal hematopoiesis. With deepening insights into the molecular framework of DBA, emerging therapies like gene therapy hold promise for providing curative solutions and advancing comprehension of the underlying disease mechanisms.
Topics: Infant; Humans; Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan; Ribosomal Proteins; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Genetic Therapy; Erythropoiesis; Bone Marrow Failure Disorders
PubMed: 37973818
DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-02082-w -
EJHaem Aug 2023Herein, we present a rare case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with CBFA2T3-rearrangement and the expression of megakaryocytic and lymphoid markers, highlighting the...
Herein, we present a rare case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with CBFA2T3-rearrangement and the expression of megakaryocytic and lymphoid markers, highlighting the need for a high suspicion index in differential diagnosis and applying adequate workup to avoid misdiagnosing this entity. -positive AML is primarily found in infants with non-down syndrome acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (non-DSAMKL). Flow cytometry immunophenotyping plays an important role in recognizing the unique immunophenotype of bright CD56 expression with dim/negative expression of HLA-DR, CD38, and CD45 termed the RAM immunophenotype in this entity. Still, CBFA2T3::GLIS2-positive acute leukemia with T/megakaryocytic markers could be misdiagnosed as T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, NK lymphoblastic leukemia, AML with minimal differentiation, or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes.
PubMed: 37601875
DOI: 10.1002/jha2.741 -
Blood Advances Jul 2023Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can be classified into different subgroups based on recurrent genetic alterations. Here, targeted RNA sequencing was used to identify...
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can be classified into different subgroups based on recurrent genetic alterations. Here, targeted RNA sequencing was used to identify the novel subgroups of ALL in 144 B-other and 40 "classical" ALL samples. The classical TCF3-PBX1, ETV6-RUNX1, KMT2A-rearranged, and BCR-ABL1, and novel P2RY8-CRLF2, ABL-, JAK2-, ZNF384-, MEF2D-, and NUTM1-fusions were easily identified by fusion transcript analysis. IGH-CRLF2 and IGH-EPOR were found by abnormally high levels of expression of CRLF2 or EPOR. DUX4-rearranged was identified by the unusual expression of DUX4 genes and an alternative exon of ERG, or by clustering analysis of gene expression. PAX5-driven ALL, including fusions, intragenic amplifications, and mutations were identified by single-nucleotide variant analysis and manual inspection using the IGV software. Exon junction analysis allowed detection of some intragenic ERG and IKZF1 deletions. CRLF2-high associated with initial white blood cell (WBC) counts of ≥50 × 103/μL and GATA3 risk alleles (rs3781093 and rs3824662), whereas ABL/JAK2/EPOR-fusions associated with high WBC counts, National Cancer Institute's high-risk classification, and IKZF1del. ZNF384-fusions associated with CALLA-negativity and NUTM1-fusions in infants. In conclusion, targeted RNA sequencing further classified 66.7% (96 of 144) B-other ALL cases. All BCP-ALL subgroups, except for iAMP21, hyperdiploid and hypodiploid cases, were identified. Curiously, we observed higher frequencies of females within B-rest ALLs and males in PAX5-driven cases.
Topics: Male; Infant; Female; Humans; Child; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Mutation; Chromosome Aberrations; Base Sequence; Sequence Analysis, RNA
PubMed: 36848637
DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022009179 -
Cancer Causes & Control : CCC Nov 2023Studies report mixed findings regarding the association of breastfeeding with childhood brain tumors (CBT), the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in young... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Studies report mixed findings regarding the association of breastfeeding with childhood brain tumors (CBT), the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in young people. Our objective was to determine whether breastfeeding is associated with CBT incidence.
METHODS
We pooled data on N = 2610 cases with CBT (including 697 cases with astrocytoma, 447 cases with medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor [PNET], 167 cases with ependymoma) and N = 8128 age- and sex-matched controls in the Childhood Cancer and Leukemia International Consortium. We computed unconditional logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of CBT, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma/PNET, and ependymoma according to breastfeeding status, adjusting for study, sex, mode of delivery, birthweight, age at diagnosis/interview, maternal age at delivery, maternal educational attainment, and maternal race/ethnicity. We evaluated any breastfeeding versus none and breastfeeding ≥ 6 months versus none. We subsequently performed random effects meta-analysis to confirm our findings, identify potential sources of heterogeneity, and evaluate for outliers or influential studies.
RESULTS
Breastfeeding was reported by 64.8% of control mothers and 64.5% of case mothers and was not associated with CBT (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.94-1.15), astrocytoma (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.87-1.17), medulloblastoma/PNET (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.93-1.32), or ependymoma (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.81-1.40). Results were similar when we restricted to breastfeeding ≥ 6 months and in meta-analyses.
CONCLUSION
Our data suggest that breastfeeding does not protect against CBT.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Infant; Astrocytoma; Brain Neoplasms; Breast Feeding; Case-Control Studies; Cerebellar Neoplasms; Ependymoma; Leukemia; Medulloblastoma; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive; Risk Factors; Male
PubMed: 37421504
DOI: 10.1007/s10552-023-01746-3 -
JAMA Network Open Jul 2023Neurocutaneous syndromes are associated with cancer predisposition and sometimes associated with perinatal factors. A better understanding of the association between...
IMPORTANCE
Neurocutaneous syndromes are associated with cancer predisposition and sometimes associated with perinatal factors. A better understanding of the association between neurocutaneous syndromes, perinatal factors, and childhood cancer is key for earlier cancer detection.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of neurocutaneous syndromes and perinatal factors with childhood cancer risk in a cohort of Swedish children.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
In this nationwide cohort study, all children and adolescents up to age 20 years, from 1973 to 2015, were identified through the Swedish National Medical Birth Register (MBR), provided they had information on both biological parents. Analyses were conducted from April 2021 through May 2023.
EXPOSURES
Diagnoses of neurocutaneous syndromes were obtained from the MBR, National Patient Register, and Cause of Death register. Perinatal factors (birth weight, gestational age, birth weight by gestational age, 5-minute Apgar score, and head circumference) were obtained from the MBR.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Childhood cancer risk (<20 years at diagnosis; identified from the National Cancer Register), including leukemia, lymphoma, and central nervous system (CNS) tumors.
RESULTS
Among 4 173 108 included children (2 143 133 [51.4%] male, median [IQR] follow-up 20 [9.7-20] years), 1783 had neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), 444 tuberous sclerosis, 63 von Hippel-Lindau disease, and 39 ataxia-telangiectasia. An increased cancer risk was observed among children with any neurocutaneous syndrome (HR, 34.9; 95% CI, 30.8-39.6) and was particularly pronounced for CNS tumors (HR, 111.7; 95% CI, 96.8-128.8), except among children with ataxia-telangiectasia, where the increased risk was associated with lymphomas (HR, 233.1; 95% CI, 75.0-724.1). Leukemia risk was increased only among children with NF1 (HR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.7-9.8). Several perinatal factors, including high birth weight, being born large for gestational age, preterm birth, low 5-minute Apgar score, and large head circumference had lesser associations with childhood cancer. Adjusting for neurocutaneous syndromes did not affect these associations.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this nationwide cohort study, neurocutaneous syndromes were associated with an increased risk of childhood cancer, especially CNS tumors. Several perinatal factors had lesser associations with childhood cancer, independently of the presence of neurocutaneous syndromes. Other biological mechanisms likely underlie the association between perinatal factors and childhood cancer.
Topics: Child; Infant, Newborn; Adolescent; Female; Pregnancy; Male; Humans; Child, Preschool; Young Adult; Adult; Neoplasms; Neurocutaneous Syndromes; Sweden; Birth Weight; Ataxia Telangiectasia; Cohort Studies; Premature Birth; Leukemia
PubMed: 37490289
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.25482