Prognostic role of bcl-xL and p53 in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Molecular parameters involved in the prediction of response of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are still unclear. We have evaluated the expression and mutational status of p53 and the expression of bcl-xL and bax in a series of 62 consecutive children (median age: 4 years; 38 males and 24 females) affected by de novo ALL. Alterations and overexpression of p53 were uncommon events (9/62, 14.5%) while bcl-xL and bax overexpression were frequent (about 70%). EFS was directly correlated to age < 6 years (p= 0.0178), non-T phenotype (p= 0.0470), WBC at diagnosis < 20000/µl (p= 0.0093), response to induction therapy with prednisone (p= 0.0211) and inversely correlated to mutated p53 or overexpression of p53 (p= 0.0039) and high intensity of BclxL expression (p= 0.0055). OS was directly correlated with age < 6 years (p= 0.0004), female gender (p= 0.0139), non-T phenotype (p= 0.0012), WBC at diagnosis < 20000/µl (p= 0.0187), response to induction therapy with prednisone (p= 0.0211), wild type p53 or ...