title: Markers of increased angiogenesis and their correlation with biological parameters identifying high-risk patients in early B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: We wondered whether there was any association between the extent of increased angiogenesis and IgV(H) gene mutational status, expression of CD38 and ZAP-70 in early B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) correlated positively with ZAP-70-expression (P=0.03), CD38- expression (P=0.03) and mutational status of IgV(H) (P=0.005). The same did not apply when correlations were sought with either bone marrow angiogenesis or serum levels of basic fibroblatic growth factor (FGF-2). Studies to determine how to integrate variables reflecting increased angiogenesis with other prognostic markers such as CD38, ZAP-70, IgV(H) status and cytogenetic abnormalities are needed to optimize risk stratification for individual patients.
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology Department, Azienda Ospedaliera Pugliese-Ciaccio, Viale Pio X, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy. smolica@libero.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molica
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cutrona
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitelli
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mirabelli
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molica
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Digiesi
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ribatti
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrarini
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vacca
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000235:genetics; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012307:Risk Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1