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Serum vitamin A status in acute lymphocytic leukemia of childhood
S L Alade1, R E Brown, W P Bowman
1Department of Pathology, Cook-Fort Worth Children's Medical Center, TX 76104.
Insights
Children with T-cell leukemia (T-ALL) and common acute lymphocytic leukemia (CALL) show lower vitamin A levels. This study highlights vitamin A carrier protein alterations and heterogeneity in childhood leukemia.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
Background:
- Childhood leukemias, including common acute lymphocytic leukemia (CALL) and T-cell leukemia (T-ALL), are significant health concerns.
- Vitamin A status and its carrier proteins, retinol-binding protein (RBP) and prealbumin (PA), play crucial roles in cellular processes and immune function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess serum vitamin A status in children diagnosed with CALL and T-ALL.
- To investigate potential alterations in vitamin A and its carrier proteins (RBP, PA) in these pediatric leukemia patients compared to controls.
- To explore the heterogeneity within common acute lymphocytic leukemia based on vitamin A status.
Main Methods:
- Serum concentrations of vitamin A, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and prealbumin (PA) were measured at diagnosis.
- Patients included 31 children with CALL and 7 with T-ALL.
- A control group of 22 healthy children was used for comparison.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower mean concentrations of vitamin A, RBP, and PA were observed in T-ALL patients compared to controls (p < 0.01).
- Reduced mean RBP and PA levels were found in CALL patients compared to controls (p < 0.01).
- Two subgroups of CALL were identified: "euretinolemic" (74.2%) and "hyporetinolemic" (25.8%), with the latter being younger and exhibiting more pronounced decreases in RBP and PA.
Conclusions:
- Factors affecting vitamin A carrier proteins (RBP and PA) are present in childhood T-cell and common acute lymphocytic leukemia.
- The identification of "euretinolemic" and "hyporetinolemic" subgroups provides further evidence for the heterogeneity of common acute lymphocytic leukemia in children.
- Altered vitamin A metabolism may be a relevant factor in the pathophysiology or clinical presentation of childhood ALL.
Abstract:
Serum vitamin A status was assessed at the diagnosis in 31 children with common acute lymphocytic leukemia (CALL) and seven with T-cell leukemia (T-ALL). A control population consisting of 22 children was established to serve as one basis for comparison. Mean concentrations of vitamin A, retinol-binding protein (RBP) and prealbumin (PA) were significantly less (p less than 0.01) in the sera of patients with T-ALL when compared with the controls. Similarly, mean RBP and PA levels were reduced (p less than 0.01) in the sera of patients with CALL. In addition, "euretinolemic" and "hyporetinolemic" subgroups of CALL were identified comprising 74.2 percent and 25.8 percent of the patient population, respectively. The latter differed from the euretinolemic patients by being younger and showing an even greater decrease in the serum concentrations of RBP and PA. These findings indicate that there are factors affecting carrier proteins of vitamin A in childhood T-cell and common ALL; also, the data provide further evidence of the heterogeneity of common acute lymphocytic leukemia of childhood.