Expression of YY1 in pro-B and T phenotypes correlation with poor survival in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer, constituting 80% of all acute leukemias in minors. Despite the increase in the success of therapies, disease-free survival is over 80% in most cases. For the remaining 20% of patients, new strategies are needed to allow us to know and select those at greatest risk of relapse. We evaluated by immunohistochemistry the expression of the transcription factor YY1 and found that it is overexpressed in peripheral blood leukemia cells of pediatric patients with ALL with Pro-B and T phenotype compared to control samples. Over expression of YY1 was associated with a significantly lower chance of survival. We also evaluated by RT-PCR in bone marrow samples from ALL pediatric patients the association of YY1 expression with the percentage of blasts. High levels of YY1 were present in samples with higher percent of blasts in these patients. In addition, ALL pediatric patients with a poor response to therapy had higher levels at the nuclear level of YY1 than those who responded well to chemotherapy. In conclusion, our data suggest that YY1 could serve in pediatric ALL as markers of evolution and response for this disease, mainly in patients with pro-B and T immunophenotype. It is also suggested that YY1 is implicated in the expanse of blast in these patients.

Keywords:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• B cells
• survival
• T cells
• YY1

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the National Council of Science and Technology [2007-C01-69789 CONACYT, S.H.-Y], the Mexico Federal Funds [Grant HIM/2014/018, G.A-A., S.H.-Y.], and the Mexican Foundation of Health and Merck [Grant F769, S.H.-Y].