Clinical significance of monoclonal proteins in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Serum monoclonal proteins were found in 36 of 111 (32%) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients studied using high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis combined with immunofixation. In contrast, using immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) and serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP), monoclonal proteins were found in 20 and 4% of CLL patients, respectively. The presence of a monoclonal protein was associated with a median survival of 63 months compared to 103 months for individuals without a monoclonal spike (p < 0.012). This was independent of clinical stage. The data also suggests that the presence of a monoclonal protein may define a group of patients at greater risk for disease progression in the low and intermediate risk groups. (Rai stages, 0, I, II). Further follow-up will be required to determine if this is statistically significant.
Bernstein
Z P
ZP
Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263.
Fitzpatrick
J E
JE
O'Donnell
A
A
Han
T
T
Foon
K A
KA
Bhargava
A
A
D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D001798:Blood Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins