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Increased ratio between deoxycytidine kinase and thymidine kinase 2 in CLL lymphocytes compared to normal lymphocytes.

Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) is important in the 5'-phosphorylation of deoxynucleoside analogs. Like dCK, thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) catalyzes the initial step of the phosphorylation of dcyd to dCTP. Thymidine is a strong inhibitor of the dCK activity of TK2. We examined the ratio of the dcyd phosphorylation carried out by dCK and by TK2 (dCK/TK2-dcyd) in lymphocytes from CLL patients and from donors. In the CLL lymphocytes we found a 3.5-fold average increase. Therefore, we conclude that addition of thymidine in the treatment of CLL with deoxynucleoside analogs will not be of any advantage. Furthermore, our results can explain earlier findings in CML and AML lymphocytes where the ara-C phosphorylation was twice the dcyd phosphorylation.

Cells, Cultured↗

Detection of bcl rearrangements in B-CLL by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Data concerning oncogene activation in CLL are very limited. When studied by Southern blot, rearrangements of bcl-1, bcl-2, and bcl-3 have been only infrequently reported. We evaluated the role of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the detection of gene rearrangements in two CLL patients. We used multiple DNA probes, including those of chromosome 12, immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, and the oncogenes bcl-1, bcl-2, and bcl-3. Additionally, routine cytogenetic study was performed. In one patient, trisomy 12 and bcl-2 translocation were demonstrated by both methods, while trisomy 12 and bcl-1 translocation were seen in the second patient, who had a normal karyotype. Larger studies should evaluate the role of FISH in the detection of oncogene involvement in CLL and compare it with other molecular methods.

Aged↗

Chronic lymphocytic leukemic (CLL) cells secrete multispecific autoantibodies.

A subset of B cells expressing the CD5 marker, a 67 KD molecule, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. To study the immunoglobulin repertoire of CD5+ B cells we investigated chronic lymphocytic leukemic (CLL) cells, since the majority of the malignant clones express CD5. CLL were induced to secrete their IgM in vitro by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and the supernatants screened for binding to a panel of autoantigens. Twelve out of 14 CLL clones were autoreactive, binding to Fc of IgG, ssDNA, dsDNA, histones, cardiolipin, or cytoskeletal components. Many also bound to more than one antigen tested for, showing multispecificity. Our data suggest that a high proportion of CD5+ B cells are programmed to secrete multispecific autoantibodies.

Antibodies, Neoplasm↗

Key issues in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

The outcome of the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has improved little over the past 30 years. The recent introduction of purine analogues, particularly fludarabine, may change this situation. These agents are highly effective and generally well tolerated. They raise the possibility of improved disease-free survival and allow appropriate patients to be considered for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Randomised clinical trials are needed to establish the roles of purine analogues and other novel agents in improving the survival of CLL patients. These trials should use consistent diagnostic and assessment criteria to allow for the clinical heterogeneity of CLL.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Involvement of p53 in alpha4beta1 integrin-mediated resistance of B-CLL cells to fludarabine.

We recently showed that alpha4beta1 integrin induces B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cell resistance to fludarabine-induced apoptosis via upregulation of Bcl-xL. We have now studied whether p53 was involved in this response. Cells from five B-CLL patients with wild-type p53 determined by DNA sequencing, or from the EHEB cell line, cultured on the alpha4beta1 ligand H/89 during fludarabine treatment, showed significantly higher viability (P<or=0.001) than cells cultured on poly-D-lysine (pLys). Parallel to this different viability, fludarabine increased p53 expression on pLys-cultured cells and this increase was significantly reduced (P<or=0.05) on cells cultured on H/89. Thus, p53 appears to be part of the survival pathway induced by alpha4beta1 ligation and may contribute to the progressive drug resistance in B-CLL.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Identification of progression markers in B-CLL by gene expression profiling.

OBJECTIVE: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a heterogeneous disease with a pronounced variation in the clinical course. With the purpose of identifying genes that could be related to disease progression, we have performed gene expression profiling on B-CLL patients with an indolent disease and patients with a progressive disease with need for therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we applied the Affymetrix GeneChip technique to 11 B-CLL patients with stable and 10 patients with clinically progressive disease. Supervised and unsupervised clustering methods with different algorithms were used to identify genes that tend to give a distinction between stable and progressive disease. RESULTS: The supervised learning procedures identified groups of genes with a combined power to discriminate samples from progressive and stable disease with 70-90% accuracy. The gene for protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B' (B56) gamma isoform (PPP2R5C) and the gene for retinoblastoma-like 2 (p130) (RBL2) were included among the best discriminators; both genes were downregulated in progressive as compared to stable B-CLL. In a hierarchical clustering analysis based on gene expression pattern three clinical subcategories could be identified: one with a more severe clinical outcome, a second one with good prognosis, and a third one that was intermediate between the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our application of microarray analysis on a clinically well defined material has identified a number of genes with combined expression patterns related to stable or progressive disease in general. Unsupervised clustering suggested the existence of subclasses of samples in the progressive group that may be identifiable through gene expression patterns.

Aged↗

Surface-antigen expression profiling (SEP) in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL): Identification of markers with prognostic relevance.

Studies of gene expression profiling (GEP) have been successfully used for the identification of molecules to be employed as potential prognosticators. With the aim of identifying the immunophenotypic profile of B-CLL subsets with different prognoses, we investigated by flow cytometry the expression of 36 surface antigens in 117 cases, 113 with survival data. In analogy with GEP, results were analyzed by applying unsupervised hierarchical algorithms (surface-antigen expression profiling, SEP). Distinct immunophenotypic groups (A, B1, B2 and C) were identified, group C (57/117) with longer survivals, as compared to groups A (23/117), B1 (16/117) and B2 (21/117). The immunophenotypic signatures of these groups were characterized by the coordinated and differential over-expression of: i) CD62L, CD54 and CD49c (group C); ii) CD38 and CD49d (group A); iii) none of the above markers (group B1 and B2). Other molecules were either not expressed, widely expressed by all samples, or were variably expressed within the observed B-CLL subgroups, although without a clearly distinguishable pattern. By employing an identical approach for investigating the reactivity of B-cell panel monoclonal antibodies (B-mAbs) in B-CLLs (29 cases) and in 19 B and non-B leukemia/lymphoma cell lines, we found mAbs (B012, B001, B006, B018, B019, B020, B017) mainly unreactive in all the samples, mAbs (B002, B010, B013, B014, B015) strongly reactive in B-CLLs and B-cell lines but not in non-B-cell lines, and mAbs recognizing antigens variably expressed in cell lines and B-CLLs. A hierarchical clustering focused on B-CLLs alone, combining reactivity values for B-mAbs with the expression of CD62L and CD38, these latter antigens identified as leader markers of B-CLL subsets with different prognosis, demonstrated a correlation between CD62L expression and the reactivity of B007, B003, B011 and B005 mAbs. These mAbs may represent potentially novel markers with prognostic relevance in B-CLLs.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1↗

Comprehensive analysis of a large genomic sequence at the putative B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) tumour suppresser gene locus.

In many haematological diseases, and more particularly in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL), the existence of a tumour suppressor gene located within the frequently deleted region 13q14.3, has been put forward. A wide candidate region spanning from marker D13S273 to D13S25 has been proposed and an extensive physical map has been constructed by several teams. In this study, we sequenced a minimal core deleted region that we have previously defined and annotated it with flanking available public sequences. Our analysis shows that this region is gene-poor. Furthermore, our work allowed us to identify new alternative transcripts, spanning core regions, of the previously defined candidate genes DLEU1 and DLEU2. Since their putative involvement in B-CLL was controversial, our present study provide support for reconsidering the DLEU1 and DLEU2 genes as B-CLL candidate genes, with a new definition of their organisation and context.

Alternative Splicing↗

Clinical relevance of Flt1 and Tie1 angiogenesis receptors expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Angiogenesis, a complex process tightly controlled by several molecules including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) along with their receptors, plays a major role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. The expression and production of VEGF and bFGF have been documented in numerous solid tumors and hematopoietic neoplasms. Having recently shown increased expression of cellular VEGF in the leukemic cells of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) we decided to investigate the expression of angiogenic receptors Flt1 and Tie1. Levels of Tie1 and Flt1 proteins were measured in leukemic cells from 231 patients with B-cell CLL using Western blot analysis and solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). A strong correlation was found between Flt1 and Tie1 levels and white blood cell count (WBC) and absolute lymphocyte counts. Levels of Flt1 but not Tie1 correlated with levels of cellular VEGF. Interestingly, Tie1 correlated well with Rai stage (P=0.04). Flt1 and Tie1 did not correlate with survival, although when we evaluated the patients with early disease (Rai stage 0-II), higher levels of Tie1 but not of Flt1 correlated with worse survival. These data suggest that Tie1 plays a role in the early stages of B-cell CLL and as the disease progresses, the tumor cells become independent from the effects of Tie1. Further studies are now needed to dissect the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon.

Actuarial Analysis↗

In vitro thymidine kinase/ganciclovir-based suicide gene therapy using replication defective herpes simplex virus-1 against leukemic B-cell malignancies (MCL, HCL, B-CLL).

A replication defective herpes simplex virus-1 was evaluated as a therapeutic vector. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), hairy cell leukemia (HCL), and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were chosen because leukemic cells were collectable from peripheral bloods in these diseases. Cells from six MCL, one HCL, and nine B-CLL were infected in vitro with T0Z.1 at 3 multiplicity of infection (MOI). Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK)/ganciclovir (GCV)-mediated suicide gene therapy showed 14.7% of mean tumor killing against leukemic B-cell malignancies. The mean tumor-killing effects were 8.7 and 17.1% in MCL and B-CLL, respectively. The effect against HCL was 29%. The study indicates that herpes simplex virus (HSV)-based gene therapy might be an effective strategy.

Adult↗

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) occurring with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: implications.

Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the west and over the past two decades the incidence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has significantly increased, few reports of the coincidence of these diseases exist in the literature. Other lymphoid malignancies such as non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) occur frequently with HIV and indeed the former is an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illness. It is not clear why HIV infected patients have a predisposition for some B-cell disorders and not others. This may be related to the different age ranges for patients with CLL and HIV infection although an overlap clearly does exist. Here, we describe our experience with a patient with co-existing HIV infection and CLL and explore possible implications.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Sustained complete remission of CLL associated with the use of a Chinese herbal extract: case report and mechanistic analysis.

We report the case of a man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who, in the absence of cytotoxic chemotherapy, began taking a Chinese herbal extract. Shortly thereafter, he experienced a steady decline of his lymphocytosis and adenopathy, and he remains in remission now over 10 years later. The herbal extract inhibited the survival of primary CLL cells under in vitro culture conditions. However, it did not inhibit the activation of Akt or MAP kinase, nor did it inhibit the serine phosphorylation of STAT1. Thus, through an as yet unknown mechanism, this extract appears to exert pro-apoptotic effects in CLL.

Apoptosis↗

The correlation of telomerase and IL-10 with leukemia transformation in a mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Telomerase activity is upregulated in activated and malignant lymphocytes. We studied the correlation of telomerase and IL-10 to leukemia transformation in the NZB mouse model of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Telomerase levels increased from early to late leukemic stages, likewise IL-10 gene expression levels increased with the leukemic progression. The inverse relationship of telomerase and IL-10 levels to the survival of NZB mice was also established. Our data suggested that telomerase and IL-10 were involved in transformation in the murine model of CLL and the detection of telomerase activities might be of value in the prediction of CLL progression.

Age Factors↗

Comparative genomic hybridization and amplotyping by arbitrarily primed PCR in stage A B-CLL.

Cytogenetic analysis is useful in the diagnosis and to assess prognosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). However, successful cytogenetics by standard techniques has been hindered by the low in vitro mitotic activity of the malignant B-cell population. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has become a useful tool, but it does not provide an overall view of the aberrations. To overcome this hurdle, two DNA-based techniques have been tested in the present study: comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and amplotyping by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR). Comparative genomic hybridization resolution depends upon the 400-bands of the human standard karyotype. AP-PCR allows detection of allelic losses and gains in tumor cells by PCR fingerprinting, thus its resolution is at the molecular level. Both techniques were performed in 23 patients with stage A B-CLL at diagnosis. The results were compared with FISH. The sensitivity of AP-PCR was greater than CGH (62% vs. 43%). The use of CGH combined with AP-PCR allowed to detect genetic abnormalities in 79% (15/19) of patients in whom G-banding was not informative, providing a global view of the aberrations in a sole experiment. This study shows that combining these two methods with FISH, makes possible a more precise genetic characterization of patients with B-CLL.

Adult↗

Detection of trisomy 12 and centromeric alterations in CLL by interphase- and metaphase-FISH.

We have studied trisomy 12 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with an alpha-satellite centromeric probe for chromosome 12 on both dividing and non-dividing cells. Trisomy for chromosome 12 was demonstrated in four of these patients (15.3%) using FISH on interphase cells. The percentage of trisomic cells ranged from 10% to 65% of nuclei. The hybridization signals in the trisomic and disomic nuclei were of a broadly similar size and nature. Interestingly, three of the remaining CLL patients, who exhibited disomy for chromosome 12, showed a marked difference in size of the hybridization signals in interphase nuclei. This was also demonstrated in metaphase spreads. In addition, metaphase FISH studies revealed a supernumerary marker chromosome in three out of 26 patients with CLL.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12↗

Cytogenetics in CLL and related disorders.

Chromosome analysis of more than 1200 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia reported to the International Working Party on Chromosomes in CLL and in the literature is analysed. Clonal chromosomal abnormalities are found in about half of the patients, and one third of those with clonal aberrations have trisomy 12, with or without additional changes. The most common structural abnormalities involve the long arm of chromosome 13, usually as deletions involving 13q14, the site of the retinoblastoma gene. Other recurrent abnormalities are deletions of the long arms of chromosome 11 and 6. 14q+ markers are frequent in patients at advanced stage, but are almost always within complex abnormalities. The number of clonal abnormalities in the CLL cells has a strong prognostic impact. Trisomy 12 as a single abnormality is an adverse prognostic sign, whereas patients with 13q abnormalities generally do comparatively well. Lymphoid leukaemia with monoclonal immunoglobulin secretion frequently involves clonal chromosomal abnormalities, and the type of change is similar to that seen in true CLL. In B cell prolymphocytic leukaemia, t(11;14) is a common finding, together with trisomy 12. T cell prolymphocytic leukaemia is characterized by an inversion of the long arm of chromosome 14, with breaks at q11 and q32, and trisomy of 8q, whereas large granular lymphocytic leukaemia has shown no consistent abnormality. Hairy cell leukaemia seems to involve a specific set of non-random chromosome abnormalities, such as inv(5)9.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Retrospective study of the prognostic role of serum thymidine kinase level in CLL patients with active disease treated with fludarabine.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that the serum thymidine kinase (TK) level can be used to determine prognosis in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases, but mainly those with multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), TK levels may provide prognostic information independent of stage and other prognostic factors, but it is still unclear whether they can be used to predict the response to treatment and length of survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To determine whether TK levels can be used to predict response and survival, we retrospectively examined the serum TK level in 188 previously treated and untreated patients with active or advanced CLL who were then treated with fludarabine alone or in combination with prednisone. The correlation of the TK level with other prognostic features and with outcome was then assessed. RESULTS: Serum TK levels were elevated in 92% of the patients, and the levels proved to associate with previous treatment, stage of disease, and other tumor-burden related features (i.e., white blood cell counts, absolute lymphocyte count, bone marrow cellularity). The levels were also directly associated with indicators of tumor cell turnover (i.e., beta2-microglobulin and lactate dehydrogenase levels). Of particular importance, we found that the TK level was a significant prognostic indicator of both response to treatment and survival. Specifically, 83% of patients with a TK level of < 10 U/L responded (complete and partial response) to treatment with fludarabine, whereas only 45% of patients with a TK level of > or = 10 U/l responded to treatment (P < 0.01). This difference was maintained when we separately analyzed untreated and previously treated patients, and in patients divided according to the Binet stage. The TK level also added prognostic information about response to a predictive model based on the hemoglobin and, albumin levels and the extent of prior treatment. Of further importance, the median survival rate in patients with a TK level of < 10 U/l was 65%, as opposed to a rate of 22% in patients with a TK level of > or = 10 U/l (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The serum TK level in CLL patients provides useful prognostic information regarding both response to therapy and length of survival and should be used in planning appropriate therapy. In particular, patients with a TK level of > or = 10 U/l have a poor prognosis and should be considered for aggressive treatment.

Aged↗

Deletions at 11q identify a subset of patients with typical CLL who show consistent disease progression and reduced survival.

Eighty-four patients with typical chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (by morphological and immunophenotypic criteria) on whom karyotypes were available were studied. Binet stage at diagnosis and follow-up were defined. Survival was calculated from diagnosis. Fifty-one percent of patients had a karyotypic abnormality, the commonest being abnormalities at 13q14 (16%); these patients did not have significantly different survival from patients with normal karyotype. The second commonest abnormality was del(11q) (13%); these patients had significantly worse survival when compared both with patients with normal karyotype (P < 0.0001) and with other patients with karyotypic abnormality (P = 0.0012). All patients with del(11q) had progressed to stage C at follow-up while only 20% of the other patients had shown any disease progression (P < 0.0001). Del(11q) may identify a subset of patients with typical CLL who have worse survival and consistent disease progression and in future may help define a group of patients with CLL who could benefit from earlier or more intensive therapy.

Adult↗