The prognostic role of chemokine ligand-3 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Introduction Chemokines are responsible for dissemination and survival of many malignant tumors including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Chemokine ligand-3 (CCL3), previously known as macrophage inflammatory protein-1a, has been found to be secreted from CLL cells in response to B-cell receptor activation, enhancing the interaction between CLL cells and the leukemia microenvironment. In the present study, we measured CCL3 serum levels by using the enzymelinked immunosorbent assay in 40 CLL patients and examined CCL3 levels for associations with established prognostic markers. A significant increase in the serum level of CCL3 in CLL patients (mean=147.2±62.3?pg/ml) was found in comparison with normal healthy controls (8.2±23.7? pg/ml); in addition, this increase in the CLL serum levels was significantly correlated with established prognostic factors as CD38 and the advanced stages of Rai and Binet staging system. Conclusion CCL3 serum level could be a valuable and independent prognostic marker and should be useful in risk assessment in patients with CLL, and it may provide insights into creating a new therapeutic modality.