PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-ALPHA IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Abstract

The prognostic value of tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNFα), a pro-inflammatory cytokine was studied in 140 patients with a newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). TNFα contents in blood serum was determined using ELISA method. A significant increase of serum TNFα was shown in patients with newly diagnosed CLL, as compared to healthy individuals. Dependence of the cytokine concentration on clnical stage and course of disease was revealed: the highest levels of serum TNFα were registered in patients with advanced disease and/or CLL progression. Distinct correlations were revealed between the studied cytokine amounts and clinical laboratory parameters reflecting the cell proliferative activity and tumor clone size. Immunochemotherapy was accompanied by a significant reduction of TNFα levels. According to the data from multivariate regression analysis. TNFα level of at the time of the diagnosis was an independent predictor of overall survival. Hence, TNFα plays an important role in CLL pathogenesis and may be used as an additional predictive factor for CLL outcomes.

Keywords

• chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• cytokines
• tumor necrosis factor-alpha
• prognosis
• overall survival