Nuclear translocation of lymphoblast glucocorticoid receptors in childhood leukemia does not predict steroid responsiveness.

Nuclear translocation of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) was measured in lymphoblasts from 45 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The percent of total GR translocated to the nucleus ranged from 0 to 100% (mean, 59%) and was independent of the total GR level. Neither the extent of GR nuclear translocation nor the absolute amount of GR translocated at 4 or 25 degrees C correlated with glucocorticoid response in 13 patients with single-agent glucocorticoid trial. These results indicate that defects in nuclear translocation of GR are not a common cause for steroid resistance in childhood ALL.