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Copyright (c) 2025 Jessica Fabiola Rodriguez Ortiz, Anilu Margarita Saucedo Sariñana, Monica Alejandra Rosales-Reynoso, Janet Soto Padilla, Rocio Ortiz Lopez, Ana Rebeca Jaloma Cruz, Cesar de Jesús Tovar-Jácome, Patricio Barros-Núñez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The undersigned hereby assign all rights, included but not limited to copyright, for this manuscript to CMB Association upon its submission for consideration to publication on Cellular and Molecular Biology. The rights assigned include, but are not limited to, the sole and exclusive rights to license, sell, subsequently assign, derive, distribute, display and reproduce this manuscript, in whole or in part, in any format, electronic or otherwise, including those in existence at the time this agreement was signed. The authors hereby warrant that they have not granted or assigned, and shall not grant or assign, the aforementioned rights to any other person, firm, organization, or other entity. All rights are automatically restored to authors if this manuscript is not accepted for publication.Concentration and integrity index of circulating cell-free DNA as a biomarker in pediatric patients with B-ALL
Corresponding Author(s) : Patricio Barros-Núñez
Cellular and Molecular Biology,
Vol. 71 No. 8: Issue 8
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration and integrity index of circulating cell-free DNA (ccf-DNA) as biomarkers for the detection and monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) in pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Comparison with a validated methodology for the quantification of monoclonal rearrangements of the IGH gene was made. Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were collected from 10 pediatric patients with B-ALL at diagnosis, remission, and maintenance phases. Total ccf-DNA concentration was estimated using Qubit® fluorometry, and the integrity index was obtained through qPCR amplification of ALU247/ALU115 fragments. Monoclonal rearrangements of the IGH gene were quantified by multiplex PCR and detected by capillary electrophoresis. Results showed that at diagnosis, the mean ccf-DNA concentration was 5,607 ng/mL with an integrity index of 0.38; during remission induction, they were 968 ng/mL and 0.35; and during the maintenance phase, 748 ng/mL and 0.33, respectively. Differences between treatment phases were significant (p=0.02). The reference group had a mean ccf-DNA concentration of 247 ng/mL and an integrity index of 0.20, showing significant differences compared to the patient group (p=0.01). Monoclonality analysis showed significant differences between diagnosis and remission (p=0.022) and between diagnosis and maintenance (p=0.001). Linear regression analysis during treatment demonstrated a similar trend for ccf-DNA concentration and monoclonality. In conclusion, ccf-DNA concentration and integrity index could be useful biomarkers for monitoring MRD in patients with B-ALL, showing comparable efficacy to the detection of monoclonality in the IGH gene.
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