Relationship between clinical efficacy and intracellular levels of dCK and CDA in acute leukemia

Objective To understand the relationship between the clinical efficacy and intracellular levels of deoxycytidine kinase(dCK) and cytidine deaminase(CDA) in acute leukemia. Methods A total of 7 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia(ALL) and 24 acute myelogenous leukemia(AML) was enrolled. The levels of dCK and CDA were determined by scintillation counter before chemotherapy. Results The levels of dCK and CDA in intracellular of AML were higher than those of ALL ( P 0.05). The activity of dCK in complete remission (CR) of AML and in primary of AML was 3 times that without remission (NR) and 2.5 times that of replase attack ( P 0.001, P 0.01). The ratio of CDA/dCK was lower in CR than NR. The level of dCK in acute promyelocytic leukemia (M 3) was higher than that in AML, the ratio of CDA/dCK in M 3 was significantly lower than others( P 0.01). The intracellular level of CDA was obviously high in the aged over 50 years ( P 0.05). Male patients had more dCK than female patients. Conclusion It is concluded that the Ara C is proved a good therapy because there are high dCK activity and low CDA activity in intracellular, the ratio of CDA/dCK is very low. So, these parameters can be used as the index forecasting efficacy of chemotherapy.