Reduced Leucine Catabolism Induced by Chemotherapy in Leukemic Children

Abstract

Five normal children, four children on chemotherapy, and two children who had completed chemotherapy within a year were studied using ¹³C-leucine breath test. ¹³C-Leucine was administered on an empty stomach and a single breath was collected sequentially over 3 h. The cumulative dose of ¹³C in expired gas was measured and found to be lower in children who had had chemotherapy than in the normal children. These results suggest that chemotherapy may lead to a reduction in leucine catabolism.

Key Words:

• acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• leucine
• catabolism
• chemotherapy