Asparagine synthetase expression is linked with l-asparaginase resistance in TEL-AML1–negative but not TEL-AML1–positive pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

AbstractResistance to l-asparaginase in leukemic cells may be caused by an elevated cellular expression of asparagine synthetase (AS). Previously, we reported that high AS expression did not correlate to l-asparaginase resistance in TEL-AML1–positive B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In the present study we confirmed this finding in TEL-AML1–positive patients (n = 28) using microarrays. In contrast, 35 l-asparaginase–resistant TEL-AML1–negative B-lineage ALL patients had a significant 3.5-fold higher AS expression than 43 sensitive patients (P < .001). Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTQ-PCR), this finding was confirmed in an independent group of 39 TEL-AML1–negative B-lineage ALL patients (P = .03). High expression of AS was associated with poor prognosis (4-year probability of disease-free survival [pDFS] 58% ± 11%) compared with low expression (4-year pDFS 83% ± 7%; P = .009). We conclude that resistance to l-asparaginase and relapse risk are associated with high expression of AS in TEL-AML1–negative but not TEL-AML1–positive B-lineage ALL.