Abstract
Stamset present a small but significant difference between the t(12;21) positive and t(12;21) negative untreated ALL samples regarding the percentage of cells in the S-phase. In our original study we reported a decrease of cell percentage in SþG2/M phases afterin vitroL-asparaginase treatment selectively in t(12;21)-positive cells.
The observed difference was at the order of one magnitude. The small difference observed by Stamset in the untreated patient specimens might be of interest, especially when confirmed in an independent cohort.
However, there are unanswered issues like why the proportion of G2M phase is not correspondin glyde pressed and whether this difference might be modulated by the same mechanisms as the L-asparaginase-induced cell cyclearrest.