Patients with early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia: New risk stratification based on molecular profiling

Abstract

We investigated molecular and biological parameters reflecting the biology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that may help us to predict the time to first treatment (TTT). A group of 33 patients with newly diagnosed CLL (Binet stage A) were analyzed. We developed a new scoring system based on the serum levels of β2-microglobulin (β2M) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Patients with a score of 0 had a TTT of 58.4 months, while patients with a score of 3 (increased levels of β2M, LPL, and VEGF) had a significantly shorter TTT of only 10.6 months (p < 0.0001). © 2011 Informa UK, Ltd.