title: [Prognostic significance of new biological markers in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a disease with heterogeneous clinical course and outcome. Some patients have a progressive course of the disease and require therapy immediately after the diagnosis, while others have a stable form without the need for treatment. Recently, two new biological markers, the expression of CD38 antigen and ZAP-70 have shown independent significance in the prognosis in CLL patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical value of CD38 antigen and ZAP-70 expression as predictors of the disease progression and to analyze the correlation of these markers with other B-CLL prognostic markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the expression of CD38 antigens by flow cytometry on peripheral blood samples and the expression of ZAP-70 by immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed bone marrow (BM) biopsies in 40 newly diagnosed B-CLL patients. Disease progression was defined by the period elapsed from diagnosis to the time to first treatment (TFT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of CD38 antigen correlated positively with ZAP-70 expression (Pearson, r = 0.476; p = 0.002). Also, correlation analysis results showed that a positive expression of CD38 and ZAP-70 statistically significantly correlated with unfavourable classical prognostic parameters, such as advanced Binet stage C, diffuse BM infiltration, increased lactate-dehydrogenase and beta-2 microglobulin serum levels. Patients with positive expression of CD38 antigen and ZAP-70 had a shorter TFT (log rank, 0.003 vs. 0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both new biological markers were shown to have an exceptional significance in the prediction of prognosis in CLL patients.
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leković
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mihaljević
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kraguljac-Kurtović
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perunčić-Jovanović
authors.forename: Andrija
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogdanović
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Čolović
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gotić
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / Q000032:analysis*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D051746:ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase; C497261:ZAP70 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1