ABSTRACT
Background and Abnormalities in the expression of cell adhesion molecules [CAM] are thought to influence the patterns of intranodal growth and hematogenous spread of malignant cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia [CLL]. Therefore, the characterization of some CAM phenotypic of the neoplastic clones in CLL may help to identify their role in staging and prognostic implications. In this work the expression of cell adhesion molecules of the Ig superfamily [ICAM- 1, CD54] and of selectin family [L-selectin-CD62L] of circulating malignant cells in patients with B-CLL were studied and whether the staging and tumor burden could be explained by their expression. Patients and Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained from 32 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia [B-CLL] at different stages, and from 13 healthy normal control. The expression of CAM was analyzed by fiowcytometry using mnonoclonal antibodies against CD54 and CD62L. There is significant differences in the mean expression of CD54 and CD62L [p < 0.001 and < 0.001] between CLL patients [13.25 +/- 8.72 and 24.6 +/- 10.6] and control group [3.66 +/- 1.27 and 1.69 +/- 0.24] respectively. Patients with positive ICAM-l 10/32 [31.2%] and L-Selectin 15/32 [46.9%] had more stage IV [7/10 and 10/15] than stage 11 [1/10-1/15] and stage III [2/10-4/15] respectively. There was non significant differences in the expression of CD54 and CD62L between patients who achieved in comparison to who failed remission. There was positive correlation between ICAM-1 and L-selectin expression and CD5, CDI9 and Rai stage [tau-b 0.359, 0.406, 0.254, p = 0.005, 0.001, 0.04] for ICAM-1 [tau-b 0.389, 0.254, 0.309, p = 0.002, 0.04, 0.001] for L-selection and there was no correlation regarding response to treatment. Patients with positive ICAM-1 and L-selectin expression had more advanced stage than patients with negative expression. There is positive correlation between ICAM-1 and L-selectin and stage of the disease and tumor burden and no correlation with response to treatment