Probable pre-leukaemic cytogenetic and molecular aberrations in cohort of Sudanese neonates: Mixed Lineage Leukaemia gene paradigm

Abstract

Cancer is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Pediatric acute leukaemias are the most common type of childhood cancer in developed countries. The high percentage ( 68%) of Mixed Lineage Leukaemia gene rearrangement supports the theory that some events that occur prenatally may play a role in the development of acute leukaemias. This study aimed to detect the probable pre-leukaemic cytogenetic and molecular aberrations in a cohort of sudanese neonates taking Mixed Lineage Leukaemia gene as a paradigm. Fifty cord blood samples were taken at the time of birth and divided for molecular and cytogenetics techniques. Family history of cancer is present in only 4% of the women (2/50). Drug history during pregnancy contained only haematinics in form of Iron/Folate combination which was taken by the majority (45/50, 90%). Specifically, volunteers denied the use of hormones and anticancer drugs during pregnancy the course of the pregnancy. Few of them were reported to be hypertension and Diabetes. Karyotyping was done to detect morphological chromosomal abnormalities and then Reverse Transcriptase – PCR was done to detect any abnormalities at the gene level related to MLL gene. Firstly blood cultured in RPMI 1640 medium and incubated for three days then harvested and slides prepared. Slides banded by trypsin enzyme then stained with giemsa stain. Chromosomes were analysed and photos obtained by cytovision . For PCR, we used Reverse Transcriptase PCR . RNA extracted and then converted into DNA for nested PCR. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis done and photos obtaind. We found that there is no chromosomal aberrations or gene rearrangements in a group of Sudanese neonates. In conclusion, no chromosomal aberrations or (Mixed Lineage Leukaemia/All1fused gene from chromosome 4) gene rearrangement could not be detected in the cord blood from a cohort of healthy Sudanese neonates. Sample size was severely compromised by taboos about cancer. Large sample size needs to be included in future studies looking for probable preleukaemic genes.