CD14 as a potential prognostic factor and Bcl-2 as a therapeutic target in egyptian B-Cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a unique lymphoproliferative disorder that scarcely occurs under the age of 40. B-CLL represents a neoplastic disorder caused primarily by defective programmed cell death and accompanied by a myriad of cellular and humoral immune defects. AIM: This study aimed to assess Bcl-2 and CD14 expression in B-CLL patients and their study as probable prognostic and therapy targeting factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we assessed Bcl-2 and cluster of differentiation (CD14) expression in a group of Egyptian patients with B-CLL. Forty B-CLL patients and 20 apparently healthy individuals served as the control group were included in this study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: SPSS statistical software (IBM SPSS Inc., version 20, Chicago, Illinois, USA) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Aberrant expression of Bcl-2 protein appeared in all B-CLL patients (100%). Bcl-2 expression showed a highly positive correlation with total lymphocyte count and lymphocyte count (P =0.000 for both) and a positive correlation with lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.044). The expression of myelomonocytic antigen “CD14” above the cutoff value 5 × 109/L was reported in 70% (28/40) of B-CLL patients, 55.6% (10/18) of the intermediate-risk group, and 81.8% (18/22) of high-risk group. CONCLUSION: There was a significant increase in Bcl-2 protein and CD14 in B-CLL patients. Bcl-2 was highly increased in all patients and CD14 more observed in the high-risk group than that of the intermediate risk group.

Keywords

• Apoptosis
• B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Bcl-2
• CD14
• flow cytometry
• immunophenotyping