Telomere Length and Telomerase Mutations in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Brief Summary

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES: * To compare the frequency of germline telomerase mutations in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) demonstrating prolonged myelosuppression, defined as ≥ 1 episode \> 35 days of neutrophil count recovery after chemotherapy, to the pediatric patients with the expected myelosuppression, defined as consistently \< 35 days of neutrophil count recovery after chemotherapy. * To assess association between telomerase mutations and incidence of grade 3 or 4 mucositis, relapse, and death. * To compare germline (remission) telomere length in pediatric AML patients demonstrating delayed bone marrow recovery with the pediatric patients with consistently expected recovery. * To assess whether a correlation between telomere length and incidence of grade 3 or 4 mucositis, relapse, and death exist. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Cryopreserved bone marrow samples are analyzed for DNA sequencing and mutation by Sanger-based sequencing methods, quantitative PCR, and SeqMan Pro (Lasergene from DNAStar). Results are then compared with previously published data and existing databases to determine the allele frequency in control populations.

Primary Outcomes