Expression of the senescence marker p16(INK4a) in skin biopsies of acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: Most childhood cancer survivors will develop ionizing radiation treatment-related health conditions that, in many instances, resemble age-associated pathologies. Treatment-induced premature senescence could be an underlying mechanism. FINDINGS: Here we wanted to know whether the expression of p16(INK4a), a senescence/aging biomarker, is increased in skin biopsies of acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors (ALL), previously exposed to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Several years post-treatments, we found p16(INK4a) mRNA levels are 5.8 times higher in scalp skin biopsies (targeted by cranial irradiation therapy) compared to buttocks skin biopsies (n = 10, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate for the first time that premature senescence is induced in pediatric cancer survivors and that p16(INK4a) expression could be used as a potential biomarker in this population.