DNA methylation analysis could help predict outcomes for children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Swedish researchers have reported, which they say could improve the precision of treatment and reduce side effects.
Methylation is a chemical change to DNA which can control the activity of genes found at different locations in the genome.
The researchers carried out a retrospective analysis of disease progression in some 348 children recently treated in northern Europe for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) over a period of 12 years. This led to analysis of about 850,000 DNA methylation positions.
The project has also involved establishing an epigenetic analysis base in Ume氓, Sweden.
The researchers, led by a team at Ume氓 University, have published their work in the journal Blood. They say they are adapting processes already developed for the diagnosis of brain cancer.
They report that methylation analysis improved risk assessment by measurable residual disease (MRD) testing, and has the potential to guide therapeutic decisions.
Study leader Professor Sofie Degerman said: 鈥淭he healthcare system has become much better at saving lives in childhood leukaemia, but the downside of intensive treatments is severe side effects.
鈥淥ur results show that DNA methylation analysis may be a viable way to individualise treatment according to the type of leukaemia, with the hope of a better quality of life.鈥�
Source:
Sch盲fer Hackenhaar F, Refhagen N, Hagleitner M, van Leeuwen F, Marquart HV, Madsen HO, Landfors M, Osterman P, Schmiegelow K, Flaegstad T, J贸nsson 脫, Kanerva J, Abrahamsson J, Heyman M, Nor茅n Nystr枚m U, Hultdin M, Degerman S. (2025) 鈥淐pG island methylator phenotype classification improves risk assessment in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.鈥� Blood, 8 May 2025, doi: 10.1182/blood.2024026027. Link:
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