Our results regarding the adverse prognostic significance of high expression of Ang-2 by CLL cells are substantially in keeping with Hu¨ttmann et al. Importantly, in our series, CLL patients expressing at diagnosis high levels of Ang-2 usually had more advanced clinical stage and a higher percentage of CD38þ cells, had unmutated immunoglobulin status and unfavorable cytogenetics and had a shorter progression-free survival. These associations support the idea of the involvement of Ang-2 in the mechanisms of CLL disease progression. In addition, both circulating and BM-infiltrating Ig-unmutated CLL B-cells are able to express higher levels of Ang-2 than Ig-mutated CLL and normal B cells, suggesting the presence of an intrinsic defect in Ang-2 expression that could be pathogenetically relevant in CLL marrow microenvironment and could be involved in the differential clinical behavior of Ig-mutated and Ig-unmutated CLL cases.
Maffei R., Marasca R., Martinelli S., Castelli I., Santachiara R., Morandi E., et al. (2007). Angiopoietin-2 expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: association with clinical outcome and immunoglobulin heavy-chain mutational status. LEUKEMIA, 21, 1312-1315 [10.1038/sj.leu.2404650].
Angiopoietin-2 expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: association with clinical outcome and immunoglobulin heavy-chain mutational status
MORANDI, ELENA;SILINGARDI, PAOLA;COLACCI, ANNAMARIA;
2007
Abstract
Our results regarding the adverse prognostic significance of high expression of Ang-2 by CLL cells are substantially in keeping with Hu¨ttmann et al. Importantly, in our series, CLL patients expressing at diagnosis high levels of Ang-2 usually had more advanced clinical stage and a higher percentage of CD38þ cells, had unmutated immunoglobulin status and unfavorable cytogenetics and had a shorter progression-free survival. These associations support the idea of the involvement of Ang-2 in the mechanisms of CLL disease progression. In addition, both circulating and BM-infiltrating Ig-unmutated CLL B-cells are able to express higher levels of Ang-2 than Ig-mutated CLL and normal B cells, suggesting the presence of an intrinsic defect in Ang-2 expression that could be pathogenetically relevant in CLL marrow microenvironment and could be involved in the differential clinical behavior of Ig-mutated and Ig-unmutated CLL cases.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
