Association between Hand Digit Ratio (2D : 4D) and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

OBJECTIVE: Digit ratio (2D : 4D) has been suggested as a biomarker for prenatal hormone activity and has been linked to several types of cancer. This study investigated the possible correlation between 2D : 4D ratios and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. METHODS: A case-control study was performed with Brazilian subjects. Direct measurements of the lengths of index and ring fingers of both hands of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 43) and controls matched by age and gender (n = 86) were obtained by using a digital vernier caliper. Mean ratios between the second and fourth digits were compared. Data were analyzed by Student's t-test with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the mean digit ratios of the right and left hands between the groups for any analysis (p > 0.05), neither for the whole sample nor for the distribution by gender. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia do not have a different digit pattern when compared with unaffected individuals, which may suggest that exposure to prenatal sex hormone is similar between groups.