Impact of the gene expression of natural killer cell receptors and their ligands for treatment response and prognosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Introduction: Although most patients suffering from pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are cured by current treatment strategies, there are still about 15 to 20% who subsequently relapse. To identify mechanisms by which disease is controlled in successfully treated patients might contribute to further improve treatment results. Recently we have shown in mice models that activated NK cells can control residual disease in the periphery allowing leukemic cells to migrate into the central nervous system (CNS). Whether NK cell activation contributes to leukemic disease control also in children with ALL was…