Molecular-genetic markers: prognostic factors in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Molecular-genetic markers are the most important prognostic factors of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). These markers are VH mutational status, it’s surrogate markers — СD38, ZAP-70, LPL и ADAM29 and the aim of this study - cytogenetic abnormalities. We have hold cytogenetic research of blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes cells of 135 non-treated patients.

We recognized several cytogenetic features of the B-CLL form, which characterizes by massive peripheral, thoracic, and abdominal lym-phadenopathy and not large leucocytes counts. 11q23 deletion is defined in most of such cases, trisomy 12 — significantly more often than in other B-CLL forms, and del13q14 is never revealed in patients with this B-CLL form, though it is the most frequent aberration in B-CLL. We divided all B-CLL cases in three prognostic groups: favorable group are the patients without cytogenetic aberrations or with del13q14 as the single chromosome abnormality; the group of intermediate prognosis are the patients with trisomy 12, and also the patients with del11q23, which is traditionally divided to unfavorable prognostic factors; unfavorable group are the patients with del17p13 or complex abnormalities of karyotype.

Cytogenetic study helps to define the prognosis of B-CLL and to reveal the patients of «risk group», who need the early treatment.