KDM6A: An Emerging Biomarker for Prediction of Treatment Response and Relapse in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Introduction: Despite advancements in diagnostic techniques and the development of newer chemotherapeutic agents, outcomes for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain dismal. KDM6A, a histone H3K27me3 demethylase, is a tumor suppressor gene with potential implications in AML. This study aimed to investigate the role of KDM6A in pediatric AML, exploring its association with treatment response and relapse. Methodology: In this prospective study, bone marrow aspirates or peripheral blood samples were collected from children (age ≤18 years) at three time points: diagnosis, remission, and relapse. Total RNA was extracted from the samples and subsequently reverse-transcribed into complementary DNA (cDNA) for quantitative expression analysis of KDM6A. The dynamic expression patterns of KDM6A were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: A total of 81 patients with AML were enrolled in the study. The most common symptoms observed were fever (78.8%), pallor (54.7%), fatigue (36.7%), and loss of appetite (45.5%). The most common cell surface markers detected were CD33 (100%), CD38 (91.67%), CD117 (87.80%), and CD13 (75%). The expression was downregulated at the diagnosis (n=81) compared to the control group (n=15) (p=