Expression of the glucocorticoid receptor and its isoforms in relation to glucocorticoid resistance in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia.

ABSTRACT

In vitro prednisolone resistance is a poor prognostic factor in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In a cohort of 54 children with ALL, a lower expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), but not the relative expression levels of the GR-alpha, GR-beta and GR-P isoforms, was associated with in vitro prednisolone resistance.