Ma, Xiaomei PHD
University of Southern California
University of Southern California
Ma, XiaomeiWiemels, Joseph Leo
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in children (age 0-14 years), but the causes of the disease are largely unknown. In this research project, we will study 500 children with ALL, 500 children without ALL, and the mothers of the 1000 children to assess whether mother's immune status during pregnancy and the genetic characteristics of the mother and her child affect the child's immune status at birth and the risk of developing ALL later in life (up until 14 years of age). Results of this study will help us better understand how immune development might be related to childhood ALL.