Suspicions regarding the genetic inheritance of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients with down syndrome

Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at markedly increased risk for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). DS is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 affecting approximately 1 in 732 newborns in the USA. ALL is the most common cancer in children and constitutes approximately 25% of cancer diagnoses among children under the age of 15. Different protocols for treatment and management of paediatric ALL are available; however, DS children with ALL (DS-ALL) have increased risk of therapy-related toxicity compared to those without DS. Herein, we summarize the available literature on inherited predisposition for ALL, and possibilities for molecular therapy and treatment for DS-ALL patients.