CXCR3 AND CD38 EXPRESSION AS IMPORTANT PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS FOR B-CLL

Chemokine receptors; including CXCR3, are expressed by CLL B-cells and have been involved in tumor progression. CD38 is expressed on the surface of leukemic cells in a significant percentage of patients with B-CLL. CD38 and CXCR3 expression in different types of leukemic cells and their value as a prognostic indicator has been a subject of intense investigation. In this study the expression of CXCR3 and CD38 was examined in thirty patients with de novo CLL. Peripheral blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry using specific monoclonal antibodies. CLL patients were distributed into two groups according to mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CXCR3 expression. No significant correlation was observed with patients clinical characteristics except with Rai staging system, where low CXCR3 expression was strongly associated with Rai stage III and TV. Also low CXCR3 expression was significantly correlated with high CD38 expression. In addition patients with low CXCR3 and highCD38 had a shorter survival than with high CXCR3 and low CD38. In conclusion this study suggested that CXCR3 and CD38 expression by CLL B cells are cheap, easy to perform and independent pre-dictors of outcome in CLL.