ABSTRACT
The clinical course of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia is variable. While some patients have indolent disease, others require aggressive treatment within a short time after diagnosis. So, it is important to develop sensitive stratification parameters to identify patients with poor prognosis. In this study, we measured CD38 expression in B-CLL cells and serum levels of syndccan-1 [sCD138] and its ligand basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF] and determined if they were involved in the prognosis of the patients. We measured the expression of CD38 in 40 newly diagnosed B-CLL cases by immunohistochemical method and serum levels of syndecan-1 and bFGF by ELISA technique. CD38 expressed more in advanced stages of CLL cases [p=0.04]. Also, its expression revealed statistically significant negative correlation with the response to treatment [p=0.0002]. Syndecan-1 and bFGF levels were significantly higher in B-CLL patients than in controls. There were no significant differences in sCD138 and bFGF levels in CD38+ cases compared to CD38[+] cases [p=0.087 and 0.190 respectively]. There was no statistically significant difference in sCD138 level in B I / B II stages compared to C III / C IV stages [p= 0.238], While bFGF level was significantly higher in C III / CIV cases compared to B I / B II cases [p=0.004]. As regard response to treatment, there was statististically significant low sCD138 and high bFGF levels in cases that showed progressive disease [p=0.002 and 0.026 respectively]. CD38 expression and serum levels of sCD138 and bFGF seem to provide additional prognostic information in B-CLL cases to identify which patients may benefit from an early or more aggressive