Prognosis biomarkers evaluation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
From clinical and biological points of view, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a progressive accumulation of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymphoid organs. New prognostic markers in CLL may be useful to clinicians for predicting outcome and in clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential prognostic value of the apoptotic/survival-controlling proteins and protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 gene expression in CLL patients and control individuals, correlating such findings with patients' clinical data.


METHODS
Fifty-three patients diagnosed with CLL attending the hematology service of a clinical hospital, and 24 healthy individuals with no history of leukemia (Control group) were enrolled in this study. Analyses of apoptotic/survival-controlling proteins were performed by western blot and ZAP-70 gene expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Significant differences were observed for the p-p38, Mcl-1 long, and Mcl-1 short proteins when patients were compared with CLL and controls. A positive correlation between the results for Mcl-1 short and Mcl-1 long and lymphocyte count was observed, corroborating the hypothesis of an imbalance between proteins of cell survival pathways/apoptosis in CLL.


CONCLUSIONS
ZAP-70 gene expression was not detected as a discriminant biomarker in these CLL patients. An imbalance between apoptosis-related proteins was observed in the present study, corroborating the hypothesis of increased survival of lymphocytes in CLL patients.
Clinical and Toxicological Analysis Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Lorena Caixeta
LC
Gomes
Clinical and Toxicological Analysis Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Fernanda Cristina Gontijo
FCG
Evangelista
Clinical and Toxicological Analysis Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Lirlândia Pires de
LP
Sousa
Hematology Unit of Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Sergio Schusterschitz da Silva
SSDS
Araujo
Clinical and Toxicological Analysis Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Maria das Graças
MDG
Carvalho
Clinical and Toxicological Analysis Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: adriansabin@farmacia.ufmg.br.
Adriano de Paula
AP
Sabino
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
Apoptosis/survival proteins; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; ZAP-70