# Exploring the potential of IL-10 for risk assessment and early intervention in pediatric ALL

## TL;DR

This study shows that IL-10 levels and gene variations can predict the risk of childhood leukemia in Egyptian children, offering potential for early intervention.

## Contribution

The study identifies IL-10 gene polymorphism and serum levels as novel predictive markers for pediatric ALL in an Egyptian population.

## Key findings

- The G allele and higher IL-10 levels were significantly linked to increased ALL risk.
- IL-10 demonstrated high accuracy in predicting ALL with 97% sensitivity and 96% specificity.
- Identifying the GG/AG haplotype could enable early intervention for at-risk children.

## Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a leading cause of childhood cancer, targets immune system B and T cells. While understanding its causes is crucial, predicting susceptibility holds immense power for early diagnosis and intervention. This study explored the potential of interleukin 10 (IL-10), a key immune regulator, as a predictive tool in Egyptian children. Investigating 100 ALL patients and 100 healthy controls, we analyzed the IL10 gene polymorphism (-1082 A/G) and serum levels. Strikingly, both the G allele and higher serum IL-10 levels were significantly associated with increased ALL risk (p < 0.05, OR > 1). Moreover, IL-10 emerged as a remarkably accurate predictor, boasting an AUC of 0.995, with a sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 96%. These findings unveil the potential of IL-10 as a powerful predictive tool for pediatric ALL in the studied Egyptian population. Identifying individuals with the GG/AG haplotype and elevated IL-10 levels could enable early intervention and potentially improve outcomes. While further validation in larger and more diverse populations is needed, this study paves the way for personalized risk assessment and potentially revolutionizes how we combat this childhood killer.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-024-12677-w.