title: Combined analysis of levels of serum B-cell activating factor and a proliferation-inducing ligand as predictor of disease progression in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are regulators of normal B-cell development and survival. We investigated their role in chronic lymphocyticleukemia (CLL) by relating serum protein levels and CLL cell mRNA expression with clinical factors and disease progression. In patients with CLL, BAFF serum levels were significantly lower than in controls (0.64 ng/mL vs. 0.77 ng/mL, p = 0.014), and APRIL serum levels were significantly higher (4.10 ng/mL vs. 1.84 ng/mL, p = 0.041). CLL cells expressed BAFF and APRIL mRNA at lower levels than normal B-cells. Low BAFF serum levels were significantly correlated with a high blood lymphocyte count and advanced clinical stage, whereas APRIL levels were correlated with CD38 expression. In a multivariate analysis, the combined analysis of BAFF and APRIL serum levels emerged as an independent predictor of disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Hematology, University of Barcelona, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elena
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colomer
authors.forename: Gael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roué
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aymerich
authors.forename: Tycho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Emili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montserrat
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13