IgVH genes mutation and usage, ZAP-70 and CD38 expression provide new insights on B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL).
B-prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL) is a rare disease with poor prognosis. To further characterize the biological features of this disease, we analyzed immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgVH) mutations, ZAP-70 and CD38 in 19 cases with de novo B-PLL. Immunoglobulin heavy chain genes analysis showed an unmutated pattern (>98% homology to germ line) in 9/17 cases (53%), with 100% homology in eight. In the remaining, it ranged from 90 to 97.4%, with three cases slightly mutated (98-95%) and five heavily mutated (<95%). All B-PLL utilized members of VH3 (11/17) and VH4 (6/17) families, with V3-23, V4-59 and V4-34 gene accounting for more than half of them, regardless of mutational status. ZAP-70, assessed by flow cytometry, ranged from 1 to 91% cells, being > or =20% in 57% of cases. CD38 ranged from 1 to 99% (median 21%). There was no correlation between IgVH status and ZAP-70 or CD38 expression, but male gender and del(17p) were more common in the unmutated group. Neither IgVH mutations, CD38 expression nor del(17p) influenced patients' outcome. Unexpectedly, ZAP-70+ B-PLL patients survived longer (40 months) than ZAP-70- B-PLL (8 months). B-PLL appears biologically heterogeneous regarding IgVH mutations, ZAP-70 and CD38 expression, showing a pattern distinct from that of other lymphoproliferative disorders.
Del Giudice
I
I
Section of Haemato-Oncology--Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK. idelgiu@freemail.it
Davis
Z
Z
Matutes
E
E
Osuji
N
N
Parry-Jones
N
N
Morilla
A
A
Brito-Babapulle
V
V
Oscier
D
D
Catovsky
D
D
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D015463:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / Q000235:genetics*
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1