Author(s)

Cheryl Mele

Drexel University Clemson University Doctoral Student in Healthcare of Genetics Program.

Childhood survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are increased risk of several chronic complications, such as second cancers, pulmonary, metabolic complications and cardiovascular disease. Obesity and metabolic syndrome is one of the most common treatment related complication in children surviving cancer, which concurs with our nations childhood epidemic [1-3] Recent research has identified the role of genetics in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome in childhood survivors of ALL. Growth hormone deficiency, Leptin regulation, fat mass obesity (FTO) gene and the insulin resistant ENPP1 variants disorders has been associated adverse effects of chemotherapeutic treatment and the cause of clinical manifestations of metabolic syndrome [4-8]. The illumination of the role of genetic variants can shed insights into obesity within high risk population, as well as, a target to prevent disease.

Genetic Polymorphisms; Obesity; Metabolic Syndrome; Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Mele, C. (2012) Obesity and childhood survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Do genetics play a role?. Open Journal of Genetics, 2, 77-81. doi: 10.4236/ojgen.2012.21010.