Serum Fas and Fas Ligand levels in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemias

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the Fas and Fas Ligand levels of cell membrane receptors that play a role in understanding the mechanism of apoptosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Materials and Methods: We investigated serum Fas and Fas Ligand levels by using ELISA method in childhood acute leukemias. Twenty-nine cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and twenty-seven healthy children included the study. We investigated serum Fas and Fas Ligand levels at the time of diagnosis from peripheral blood samples.

Results: Serum Fas levels of patients were median 63 pg/mL (min 15- max 690 pg/mL) and in the control group were median 37 pg/mL (min 8- max 67 pg/mL). Fas Ligand levels of patients were median 0.18 ng/mL (min 0- max 2.1 ng/mL) and in the control group median 0.1 ng/mL (min 0- max 4 ng/mL). The comparison of the mean values of Fas levels in acute leukemia patients groups and control group have shown important difference as statistically, but Fas Ligand levels were similar. Fas levels in T-ALL patients according to immunophenotypes were statistically higher than B-ALL . The Fas levels of patients who had relapsed were statistically higher than patients in remission.

Conclusion: Serum Fas levels could be a useful prognostic marker in ALL patients follow up.