Surface CD14 positivity in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is related to clinical outcome.
The aberrant expression of the myelomonocytic antigen CD14 was investigated in 128 untreated patients diagnosed with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). A cut-off value of 5 x 10(9)/l CD14-positive cells was chosen for statistical analysis because it showed the best discriminating power among patients with different clinical features. 56 cases had a CD14+ cell count >5 x 10(9)/l. A significant correlation was found between Rai and Binet stages and total tumour mass (TTM) score on one hand, and the absolute CD14+ cell cut-off, on the other. This relationship was more evident in Rai 0-II and Binet A-B stages, where a CD14+ cell count >5 x 10(9)/l was preferentially distributed among patients with a higher tumoral mass. In univariate analysis the survival probability at 5 and 10 years showed a significant correlation with Rai and Binet stages, TTM score, CD14+ absolute cell count and median age. The median overall survival (OS) was 63 months for patients with a CD14+ cell count >5 x 10(9)/l and 136 months for those with a CD14+ cell count < 5 x 10(9)/l. In the multivariate Cox regression model, Rai stage, age and CD14+ cell count were independent significant factors for the prediction of OS. Finally, when the same analysis was restricted to Rai stages 0-II, CD14+ cell count was the only significant independent parameter influencing OS, with a relative death risk of 3.8. In conclusion, these data reveal that CD14+ represents an important marker for predicting OS in B-CLL patients and, therefore, we suggest that it should be included in the immunological characterization of B-CLL.
Callea
V
V
Dipartimento Emato-Oncologia, Azienda Ospedaliera 'Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli', Reggio Calabria, Italy. morctmo@tin.it
Morabito
F
F
Oliva
B M
BM
Stelitano
C
C
Levato
D
D
Dattilo
A
A
Gangemi
F
F
Iorfida
A
A
Iacopino
P
P
Nobile
F
F
Molica
S
S
Brugiatelli
M
M
D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors