Clinical significance of ZAP-70 protein expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The clinical course of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is variable, and novel biologic parameters need to be added to the clinical staging systems to predict an indolent or aggressive outcome. We investigated the 70-kDa zeta-associated protein (ZAP-70), CD38, soluble CD23 (sCD23), and cytogenetics in 289 patients with B-CLL. Both a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were observed in ZAP-70(+) (P < .001), in CD38(+) (P < .001) and in sCD23(+) patients (P < .001 and P = .013, respectively). ZAP-70(+)CD38(+) or ZAP-70(+) patients with an unmutated IgV(H) status showed both a shorter PFS (P < .001) and OS (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively) as compared with ZAP-70(-)/CD38(-) or ZAP-70(-) patients with mutated IgV(H) genes. Discordant patients showed an intermediate outcome. Note, ZAP-70(+) patients even if CD38(-) or mutated showed a shorter PFS, whereas ZAP-70(-) patients even if CD38(+) or unmutated had a longer PFS. Furthermore, ZAP-70 positivity was associated with a shorter PFS both within normal karyotype (P < .001) and within the poor-risk cytogenetic subset (P = .02). The predictive value of ZAP-70 expression was confirmed in multivariate analysis. Thus, ZAP-70 protein determined by flow cytometry improves the prognostic significance of cytogenetics and appears to be a better predictor of outcomes than IgV(H) gene mutational status. On this line, we recommend and are also interested in conducting a prospective randomized trial of early intervention versus observation for ZAP-70(+) patients.

Clinical significance of soluble p53 protein in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: p53 status and CD38 antigen are biological factors influencing response to therapy and clinical course in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). This study tests the hypothesis that soluble p53 alone and in association with CD38 can enucleate B-CLL subsets at worse prognosis. DESIGN AND METHODS: Wild and mutant forms of p53 protein were evaluated in 197 B-CLL patients at diagnosis or before progression by an immunoenzymatic method in plasma using an anti-p53 monoclonal antibody. CD38 expression was analyzed by a multicolor flow cytometric assay. RESULTS: Higher levels of both soluble p53 (sp53) and CD38 were significantly correlated with intermediate and high Rai stages, with higher beta2-microglobulin and soluble CD23 values, determined at diagnosis. Shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were both observed in sp53+ and CD38+ patients (p<0.0001). Simultaneous positivity or negativity for sp53 and CD38 identified two subsets of patients, the former with a worse prognosis and the latter with a better prognosis with regard to PFS (p<0.0001) and OS (p<0.0001). The predictive value of sp53 and CD38 was retained among the patients within the intermediate Rai risk group. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: sp53 and CD38 together with ZAP-70 were confirmed to be independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. With regard to PFS, ZAP-70, sp53 and CD38 were confirmed to be independent prognostic factors. Concerning OS, ZAP-70, CD38 and age (< or > 60 years) were independent prognostic factors whereas sp53 showed only a tendency towards statistical significance.

One year of clinical experience in postdilution hemofiltration with online reinfusion of regenerated ultrafiltrate.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hemofiltrate reinfusion (HFR) is characterized by the use of regenerated ultrafiltrate as replacement fluid. We set up a new technique, postdilution HFR (PD-HFR), aiming at increasing purification efficiency, treatment tolerance and at reducing inflammatory states. METHODS: We performed PD-HFR in 6 uremic patients during 1 year. Dialysis efficacy, dialyzer blood loss and the behavior of cytokines were evaluated. RESULTS: No pyrogenic reactions or other adverse events were recorded. Treatment tolerance was excellent. We observed high urea extraction rates and optimal Kt/V values, high beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) extraction rates and a decrease in dialyzer blood loss; also IL-6 and TNF-alpha decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Inversion of the standard HFR configuration has allowed us to improve the removal of both urea and beta2m, and to decrease dialyzer blood loss, with an optimal tolerance. Moreover, the decrease in cytokine levels might attenuate the uremic microinflammatory state.

P-glycoprotein and BCL-2 levels predict outcome in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Concurrent resistance mechanisms, such as P-glycoprotein (PGP) and bcl-2, may contribute to a worse outcome in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Between 1990 and 2000, we analysed PGP and bcl-2 by flow cytometry, using two anti-PGP (C219 and JSB-1) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and an anti-bcl-2 mAb in 115 de novo adult ALL patients. Both a longer overall survival (OS) and longer disease-free survival (DFS) were observed in PGP-negative patients (23%vs 0% at 3 years, P = 0.011 and 29%vs 0% at 2 years, P = 0.006 for C219 respectively; 42%vs 0% at 1.5 years, P = 0.004 and 53%vs 0% at 8.5 months, P = 0.00006 for JSB-1 respectively). Bcl-2 positivity was associated with a significantly higher complete remission rate (90%vs 66%, P = 0.01). Moreover, in 69 patients not presenting with either t(9;22) or B-mature immunophenotype, PGP negativity (JSB-1) maintained its significant favourable prognostic impact with regard to OS (41%vs 0% at 1.5 years, P = 0.009) and DFS (83%vs 0% at 6 months, P = 0.0005). Importantly, within a subset of 62 patients with normal (n = 31) or unknown (n = 31) karyotype, PGP (JSB-1)-negative patients showed both a significantly longer OS and DFS (63%vs 0% at 1.4 years, P = 0.018 and 84%vs 0% at 6 months, P = 0.001 respectively). In multivariate analysis, JSB-1 (P = 0.008) and cytogenetics (P = 0.02) were found to be independent prognostic factors with regard to DFS. Therefore, in adult ALL, PGP and bcl-2 represent sensitive indicators of clinical outcome, and potential targets of novel molecules aimed at overcoming chemoresistance and recurrent relapses.

Amount of spontaneous apoptosis detected by Bax/Bcl-2 ratio predicts outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The inability to undergo apoptosis is a crucial mechanism of multidrug resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the analysis of mitochondrial apoptotic proteins may represent a significant prognostic tool to predict outcome. Bcl-2 and Bax oncoproteins were evaluated in 255 de novo AML patients (pts) by flow cytometry using an anti-bcl-2 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) and an anti-bax MoAb. The results were expressed as an index (bax/bcl-2) obtained by dividing bax mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and bcl-2 MFI. Lower bax/bcl-2 ratio was associated with French-American-British (FAB) M0-M1 classes (P =.000 01) and CD34 more than 20% (P <.000 01). There were striking inverse correlations between CD34 or CD117 MFI and bax/bcl-2 values (r = -.40, P <.000 001 and r = -.29, P =.000 002), confirming that immaturity is consistent with this index. Moreover, lower bax/bcl-2 levels were correlated with poor-risk cytogenetics (P =.0002). A significant higher complete remission (CR) rate was found in pts with higher bax/bcl-2 levels (79% versus 45%; P =.000 01). Also, both a longer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were observed in pts with higher bax/bcl-2 levels (P =.000 01 and =.019). Noteworthy, bax/bcl-2 levels accurately predicted the clinical response and outcome of pts with normal or unknown cytogenetics. Indeed, within this subset of 147 pts, higher bax/bcl-2 ratio was significantly associated both with a higher CR rate (86% versus 42%; P <.000 01) and a longer OS (P =.0016). The independent prognostic value of bax/bcl-2 ratio was confirmed in multivariate analysis. Therefore, mitochondrial oncoproteins, such as bcl-2 and bax, represent both sensitive indicators of clinical outcome and potential targets of novel proapoptotic molecules in order to circumvent chemoresistance.