Suspicions regarding the genetic inheritance of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients with down syndrome

J Mother Child. 2022 Jul 20;26(1):104-110. doi: 10.34763/jmotherandchild.20222601.d-22-00002. eCollection 2022 Mar 1.

Abstract

Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at markedly increased risk for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). DS is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 affecting approximately 1 in 732 newborns in the USA. ALL is the most common cancer in children and constitutes approximately 25% of cancer diagnoses among children under the age of 15. Different protocols for treatment and management of paediatric ALL are available; however, DS children with ALL (DS-ALL) have increased risk of therapy-related toxicity compared to those without DS. Herein, we summarize the available literature on inherited predisposition for ALL, and possibilities for molecular therapy and treatment for DS-ALL patients.

Keywords: Down syndrome (DS); acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL); gene mutations; therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Down Syndrome* / complications
  • Down Syndrome* / genetics
  • Down Syndrome* / therapy
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / complications
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / diagnosis
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* / genetics
  • Trisomy

Grants and funding

The authors declare no funding support.