Neurotrophins as Potential Biomarkers for Active Disease and Poor Outcome in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Neurotrophins (NTs) are pivotal growth factors in cellular development and survival. Their precise implications in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) remain unclear. METHODS: Pediatric ALL samples (2011-2021) were analyzed from a Southern Brazil cohort. Neurotrophin levels were quantified via ELISA, with survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves. Gene expression data were sourced from public genomic repositories and analyzed with R software version 4.0.5. RESULTS: At diagnosis, pro-BDNF, BDNF, and NGF levels were significantly lower than in healthy controls. Reduced pro-BDNF correlated with unfavorable outcomes. NGF and sortilin were highly expressed in healthy samples, while BDNF and p75(NTR) were predominant in T-ALL and B-ALL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neurotrophins show significant alterations in the tumor microenvironment of pediatric ALL. Further studies are needed to elucidate their precise role and prognostic potential.